Griffin dealt temporary setback http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/14108898.htm Wolves want to use him more once his sore wrist heals LOS ANGELES — Timberwolves forward Eddie Griffin was unavailable to play Wednesday night for the second consecutive game because of a sore right wrist, delaying his return to the rotation. Coach Dwane Casey said he had planned to get Griffin playing time against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. But Griffin hyperextended his wrist during warmups for Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, aggravating an injury he suffered Sunday in practice. Casey said Griffin is doubtful for tonight's game at Golden State but that he hopes to play Griffin on Sunday against Sacramento at Target Center. Casey emphasized he plans to make the forward a bigger part of the Wolves' plans down the stretch this season. Griffin, a starter earlier in the season, hasn't played in 12 of the past 18 games, getting on court for only 58 minutes during that stretch. "We need his rebounding, his bounce," Casey said. "We need his activity. We don't need him to participate; we need him to be competing while he's out there. I want to see the Eddie of old that we had earlier." Griffin made 21 consecutive starts before a Feb. 6 game at Phoenix. He's averaging 4.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks (eighth in the NBA). He has shot poorly all season, making 35.7 percent of his field-goal attempts and only 17.4 percent from three-point range. Wolves Justin Reed and Mark Blount, acquired in a Jan. 26 trade with Boston, have eaten into Griffin's playing time. Griffin will have laser eye surgery this summer to improve his vision. When he's seated on the bench, for instance, he said he can see the score on scoreboards but has problems reading smaller numbers and letters. He perked up at the mention of Casey's plan to get him more playing time. "I'm just happy that he's looking to get me back in the rotation," Griffin said. Garnett on Culpepper trade: Wolves all-star Kevin Garnett was surprised to learn from a reporter Wednesday that the Vikings had traded quarterback Daunte Culpepper to the Miami Dolphins. Garnett heard the news a day after the deal was completed. He said he was unaware of it because he had been holed up in his Malibu home watching "The Sopranos." Garnett said he didn't get a chance to spend much time with Culpepper because their schedules were different. Culpepper and former Vikings receiver Randy Moss attended a party with Garnett after the forward won the NBA's most valuable player award in 2004. "Every time we seen each other, it was all love," Garnett said before Wednesday's game. "Every time I seen Daunte, I seen the cars with the crazy colors, so you know it's him. I hate to see him go. But I got a friend in life with him and Randy. I just hope this is what he wants. I know he's from Florida so I wish him the best. I hate to see that. Dang. Wow." --

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