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Pekovic, Martin back for Wolves on Wednesday

Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Nuggets better be ready to play under interim head coach Melvin Hunt on Wednesday.

One night after winning in Hunt's debut after Brian Shaw's firing, the Nuggets will be up against an improving Minnesota Timberwolves squad that will get two key veterans back in the lineup.

While he's still a little weak due to an illness, Kevin Martin will return from a one-game respite, while bruising center Nikola Pekovic will return from an equally short absence due to a sore right ankle. 

Pekovic's injury is far more concerning than Martin's illness, and it will be interesting to see how much he plays given the lingering nature of his pain. He had bone spurs removed from the ankle in 2011-12 and developed bursitis in the ankle in early 2014, missing chunks of time last year and this year.

"It's like, just tough," Pekovic said on the weekend after the injury flared back up.

In 27 games, Pekovic is averaging 13.2 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting a career-worst 42.9 percent from the floor. He's visibly labored at times, and with the remainder of the Wolves' season about development, it wouldn't be surprising to see him rested regularly down the stretch.

Martin, meanwhile, has been stellar when he's played, averaging 20.5 points in 23 games with an above-average 57.8 true shooting percentage.

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