Randle out at least 2 weeks with adductor strain

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be without starting forward Julius Randle for at least two weeks after an MRI confirmed a right adductor strain, the team announced Wednesday.

Randle sustained the injury in Minnesota's Jan. 30 win over the Utah Jazz. He left the game in the second quarter with a groin injury after coming down awkwardly following a made layup over center Walker Kessler.

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said Saturday that he was preparing to be without Randle "for the near future," according to The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski. Randle has been out since the win over Utah, missing two-point losses to the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings. He'll be re-evaluated in two weeks.

The 30-year-old will likely miss a difficult three-game stretch from Feb. 10-13 in which the Timberwolves face the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road before hosting the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder in a back-to-back. However, Randle could potentially be in line to return Feb. 21 on the road against the Houston Rockets, which precedes a home-and-home back-to-back against the Thunder as part of a four-game road trip.

Randle is averaging 18.9 points through 48 starts in Minnesota, his lowest scoring mark since his 2017-18 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as a career-low 7.2 rebounds per game. He's also averaging 4.5 assists and registering shooting splits of 47/32.1/81.1.