Two newsy items before tonight's game against Portland at Target Center:
Motiejunas signs with Pelicans, Lillard out tonight
The Timberwolves have won five of their last nine games entering tonight's home game against Portland. Blazers guard Damian Lillard will miss his fourth consecutive game because of a left ankle injury.
January 1, 2017 at 11:40PM
* The Wolves brought unrestricted free-agent power forward Donatas Motiejunas to town for a workout and meetings, but never got a look at him before he agreed to sign with New Orleans.
Drafted 20th overall in the 2011 draft with the pick the Wolves owned before they started trading down time and again, Motiejunas a four-year, restricted free-agent offer sheet worth as much as $35 million with Brooklyn in November that Houston matched.
Houston had traded him to Detroit last February, but he failed the Pistons' physical exam because of concerns about his back.
When Motiejunas refused to report for a physical after the Rockets matched the Nets' offer, further negotiations resulted in him becoming an unrestricted free agents.
He is reportedly headed toward signing a one-year deal with New Orleans for the veteran's minimum.
"His agent cancelled and we never got a chance to sit down with him," Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said before tonight's game.
* Portland star point guard Damian Lillard will miss his fourth consecutive game because of a left ankle injury.
The Blazers have lost seven of their last eight games and 11 of their last 13 after they started the season 12-10.
The Wolves look to avenge an overtime loss at home to Houston last month.
