Steve Nash lingered for a while getting in extra shots after the Suns' shootaround at Target Center today. Then he sat down, got some ice on his lower back and talked about his team's recent success...and his disappointment in Ricky Rubio's injury.

Phoenix being here for tonight's 8 p.m. game with the Wolves only points out once more what might have been for Minnesota this season. Rubio was the kind of facilitating point guard that had people comparing him to Nash. Nash, meanwhile, is aging like fine wine. In his 14th NBA season he is shooting 54 percent from the field -- a career high -- and 40.7 percent from three-point range. He is trying to become the third player in history (John Stockton and Chris Mullen) to average 54 percent overall and 40 percent on threes in the same season.

Nash's play, along with a stronger bench (one that includes former Wolves player Sebastian Telfair) and better rebounding are the reasons why the Suns, out of the picture at the All Star break, are now a game behind Denver for eighth place in the Western Conference.

The Wolves, meanwhile, are 4-12 since Rubio tore knee ligaments against the Lakers March 9.

"It hurt them, obviously, in a number of ways," Nash said. "One, it takes away their main playmaker. two, it hurts their depth. So it's not something anyone wants to see happen. I was very disappointed for Ricky. He was having a very good rookie year. And he was an exciting player for our league. So it's a shame. But he's young. He'll recover well, and he'll be back (next year) and hopefully nobody will remember what happened."

Rubio is back in the Twin Cities after an extended post-surgery stay in Colorado doing rehab. He may be at the game tonight.

But we won't know until just over an hour after the game if Luke Ridnour is ready to return from the sprained ankle he sustained at Sacramento April 2. He has missed two games.

That's about it for now. Have a good afternoon.