Wolves notes: Garnett reaches 50,000 minutes

The announcement was made in the third quarter, right after Kevin Garnett had subbed out of Sunday's game against Memphis at Target Center.

Another milestone. Garnett had become the fifth player in NBA history to reach 50,000 minutes played.

"Sam subbed me and the first thing they said was, 'You have 50,000 minutes,' " Garnett said. "And I said, 'Yeah, I feel all 50.' And I'm not joking.''

Garnett, who played a season-high 24 minutes Sunday, made all four of his shots, scored eight points and had five rebounds, four assists and three steals. He stands fourth on the career list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Jason Kidd.

"Durability is something I take pride in," Garnett said. "At this stage of my career, able to be out here, starting? I don't put a lot of [stats] up. But, energywise, I'm giving what I have. I'd like to think I can still guard. That says a lot.

"People think I just wake up like this," Garnett said, pointing at himself. "But I put a lot of work into it. My mom and dad's genes ain't that great.''

It is that work ethic that the Wolves hope will rub off on the younger players.

"I can't even fathom that," said coach Sam Mitchell, once a teammate of Garnett's. "That's the thing our young guys need to understand. I don't know if they realize they're playing with a walking, talking, living, breathing, playing legend. His durability is amazing. He amazes me every night. He comes out focused. We'll be here practicing at 11 [Monday morning]. He'll be in the weight room at 8:30. That's what the young guys are starting to figure out. This is more than a two-hour-a-day job. We may practice for two hours, but it's what you do before and after that will get us there.''

Starting point guard Ricky Rubio missed his fourth consecutive game because of a left hamstring strain.

Mitchell said he had no timetable for Rubio's return.

"The trainers tell me they're working with Ricky, and they'll tell me when he's able to play,'' he said.

Mitchell said he didn't know if Rubio would need a practice before he returned to game action. "It depends on how he feels," Mitchell said. "I spend my time worrying about the guys who are going to play. It does me no good to worry about the guys that can't play.''

• There was a moment of silence before Sunday's game for the victims of Friday's Paris attacks. Also, the French national anthem was played before the U.S. anthem.