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MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves will be without centre Nikola Pekovic for a while. Nerlens Noel Jersey . Pekovic had an MRI test Tuesday on his right ankle that revealed bursitis, which is inflammation of the fluid-filled pad that cushions the joint. The Timberwolves announced the 6-foot-11, 285-pound Pekovic will be kept off the court for seven to 10 days before being re-evaluated. Pekovic was hurt in the first quarter Monday at Chicago. The Wolves have seven games in the next 10 days. Theyve won four of their last five, but they havent been above .500 since Nov. 25. The 28-year-old Pekovic is averaging career highs in points, rebounds and minutes per game. After missing 39 games over the past three seasons with various injuries, he was finally healthy. Ronny Turiaf will start in his place. Oklahoma City Thunder Shirts . — Josh Smith made a 3-pointer as time expired and finished with 20 points to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 99-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in both teams exhibition finale. Tommy Burleson Jersey . Hes recovered from a scary injury and cleared to play. Mingo, who was hospitalized with a bruised lung he sustained in an Aug.Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) – Sergei Bobrovsky and the Columbus Blue Jackets remained unbeaten in December with another tight win. Bobrovsky made 30 saves in the game and another in the shootout to lift the Blue Jackets to a 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. Ryan Johansen and Boone Jenner beat Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard in the shootout and Bobrovsky had no trouble putting his pads on a weak shot by Henrik Zetterberg to give Columbus its seventh consecutive win this month, including six by one goal. Pavel Datsyuk was the only player to beat Bobrovsky all night, fooling his fellow Russian with a backhand to open the shootout. Gustav Nyquist fired Detroits other shot off the post. Bobrovsky is also 7-0 in December and has now allowed just 12 goals on 242 shots in the month. Three of the wins have come in a shootout, moving the Blue Jackets to 3-1 this season. Both goaltenders were outstanding, said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. It was a tight game all night. They got two points and we got one. The Red Wings have lost four in a row, including three shootouts. They are 1-6 in the format this season, with Howard in net for all six losses. Babcock was asked if he would think about pulling Howard for a shootout inn the future given his record and didnt say no. Darius Bazley Jersey. He didnt say yes, either. The thing I dont like about it is Howard stood on his head and leaves the rink feeling like he didnt win, Babcock said. Howard had 29 saves in the game, but gave up shootout goals to Johansen on a backhand deke and Jenner on a stop-and-start move. Its not just him out there. Hes not taking the penalty shots, Zetterberg said, with an emphasis on taking. Its Detroits first four-game losing streak since a six-game slide from Dec. 7-17 last year in which they went 0-4-2. The Blue Jackets have won their last seven on the heels of a six-game losing streak. The franchise record is eight wins from Jan. 6-23 last season. Their seven victories this month surpasses their combined total from October and November. Game Notes Bobrovsky notched his first shutout of the season, and 10th of his career, while Howard was credited with his second shutout of the season and 20th of his career … Detroit beat the Blue Jackets 5-0 on Nov. 18 in Columbus … The Red Wings continue a four-game homestand on Friday against the New York Islanders … The Blue Jackets begin a five-game homestand on Thursday against Washington. ‚ ‚ ‚