The Timberwolves played Wednesday's game against Toronto — their last before the All-Star break — without veteran forward Tayshaun Prince, who received permission from the team to attend former teammate Chauncey Billups' jersey retirement ceremony in Detroit.
Wolves interim coach Sam Mitchell said granting Prince's request fulfilled two objectives: It enabled him to see Zach LaVine play extended minutes as a starter against Toronto, and it rewarded a player whom Mitchell said has done everything asked of him this season.
Prince and Billups were teammates on the Pistons' 2004 NBA championship team.
"He has played a lot of minutes when we've asked," Mitchell said. "He has played limited minutes when we've asked. And he hasn't played when we've asked. The work he has done on the floor and in film [study] with our younger guys is just invaluable."
With veterans Prince, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic all out injured, LaVine started at guard for the seventh time this season but the first time as a shooting guard beside Ricky Rubio.
"I tinkered with that a little bit in the preseason, but we felt at the time he wasn't ready," Mitchell said. "But obviously Zach is playing a whole lot better now, so it'll just gives us the opportunity to see Zach and see how he reacts to starting."
LaVine played the game's first 18 minutes and finished with 13 points while playing 38 minutes.
Remember him?
Toronto forward Anthony Bennett returned to Target Center for the first time since he negotiated a contract buyout with the Wolves last fall and signed with his hometown Raptors. He has played little this season on a veteran team, other than on D League assignments, and is averaging 1.5 points and 4.9 minutes per game.