Timberwolves players were surprised to learn that forward Kevin Love was diagnosed with strep throat, the same condition that sidelined backup forward Ryan Hollins for more than two weeks.
Love practiced Sunday but informed Wolves coach Kurt Rambis on Monday morning that he didn't feel well enough to play in Monday afternoon's game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Target Center.
"When I didn't see him before the game, I was worried that he would get fined for missing our (pregame) meeting," forward Al Jefferson said of Love after the Wolves' 108-103 overtime victory. "Then I started blaming Ryan Hollins for passing on his sickness to Kevin. I'm glad it skipped over me."
Jefferson's locker is between Hollins' and Love's but closer to Hollins'. Jefferson and Hollins sit next to each other, prompting Jefferson to take vitamins as a precaution. Rambis was uncertain how long Love would be away from the team. Love missed the first 18 games with a broken bone in his left hand.
Hollins, who returned to practice Saturday, on Monday made his first appearance since the Wolves' Jan. 2 game at Indiana. He was scoreless in six minutes, finishing with one rebound and five fouls.
The 7-foot Hollins is not at full strength. He dropped weight from his slender, 240-pound frame. He said he was unable to eat for "five or six days."
"The past few days, I've gained about six or seven pounds," Hollins said. "I'm the wrong guy to get that kind of illness. I was already slim."
Flynn needs a 'cut man'? Point guard Jonny Flynn had swelling above his left eye after the game, the result of a hard fall to the floor in the second quarter.
Flynn continued to play but required treatment from Wolves trainer Gregg Farnam during timeouts. Farnam held an ice pack and medication to Flynn's eye as he sat on the bench.
"I felt like I had been in a fight with (former heavyweight champion Mike) Tyson," Flynn said. "The guys were teasing me that I should get my eye cut to ease the swelling. I wasn't about to do that."
Flynn scooped up a loose ball and fell to the floor while attempting to pass to Damien Wilkins. Despite the injury, Flynn had 29 points and nine assists — both season highs — and only three turnovers in 43 minutes.
Whalen hype begins: During a timeout with 2:47 left in the third quarter, the Wolves aired a Lynx commercial on the video scoreboard featuring former University of Minnesota women's basketball star Lindsey Whalen.
The commercial was a pitch to generate ticket sales for Lynx home games in the WNBA this summer. Whalen was acquired by the Lynx last week in a trade with the Connecticut Sun.
Briefly: Jefferson had 23 points and 13 rebounds Monday for his 20th double-double this season.
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