by Kevin Spain, USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves tweeted that coach Rick Adelman told reporters on Tuesday he doesn’t expect guard Ricky Rubio to travel with the team to Utah on Wednesday to play the Jazz.

Rubio didn’t play against Phoenix on Saturday because of back spasms and Adelman told reporters the team “Wants to be careful with him.”

The second-year point guard is coming back from offseason knee surgery and he told reporters on Monday that his back started bothering him after Friday’s practice, but he didn’t realize he couldn’t play until going through warm ups against the Suns.

Rubio said the back stiffness is an example of something he’s experiencing as the knee gets stronger.

“You trust the knee and start trying different things, and then get sore in different spots,” he said.

Rubio made his season debut against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 15 and the team said at that time he wouldn’t play in every game, specifically on back-to-back games. He has played in five games, averaging 18.3 minutes, 4.2 points and 4 assists.

… [For more on Ricky Rubio likely to miss TWolves vs. Utah Wednesday, click here.]