Timberwolves starting point guard Ricky Rubio practiced at full speed and with full contact on Friday for the first time since training camp's first week and will make his preseason debut at Memphis on Sunday if he comes through Saturday's practice just as well.

That would leave him three preseason games to prepare for the team's regular-season opener on Oct. 28 in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

"I can adapt very quick," he said. "The point guard has to know the personnel from Day 1, so it's only been about 10 days, and I've been around the game. Of course, there is some timing I need and we need to practice together. But a couple days practice and three games before we start, I think it's going to be right."

Rubio said his quad on one side of his body and his surgically repaired ankle on the other both felt fine during a practice when he wore a black jersey that designated him a starter. He said he could have practiced a week ago like he did Friday, but the team's travel and practice schedule during a six-day, three-game Canadian trip didn't allow a full practice like Friday's.

"I felt good," he said. "I felt tired, but that's normal."

Rubio said his legs and lungs let him know he hasn't done much full 5-on-5 work since he was cleared to do so in September after April surgery on a severely sprained ankle.

"Honestly, he lost some conditioning, but he's got time," Wolves interim coach Sam Mitchell said. "He'll get it back."

Rubio believes there is enough time before the season opener.

"I hope so," he said. "If not, I'm going to ease into the season. It's a long season, 82 games. I want to play the whole season healthy, so I'm going to take my time."

Finding time

Mitchell said he plans to play forwards Shabazz Muhammad and Adreian Payne more on an upcoming two-game trip that begins Sunday in Memphis than they have played recently. Payne played five minutes and Muhammad played 12 minutes in Wednesday's victory over Toronto in Ottawa.

"I can't play everybody, I have 17 guys," Mitchell said, referring to the team's current roster size. "We're trying to get everybody a chance. I don't want to play a game for five minutes. It's not fair to them."

Tyus' ties

Wolves rookie Tyus Jones went to work Friday while the WNBA's Lynx celebrated a league championship nearby with a parade and Target Center rally. He once was a member of the Lynx's practice squad.

"Very happy, very happy," he said. "I know what kind of time they put and how hard they're working. Everyone over there are great people, so you're happy to see them succeed again. They got a dynasty over there."

Coach returns

Assistant coach Ryan Saunders worked Friday's practice, his first time back around the Wolves since training camp's opening week. He has been told by the team to take all the time he needs to be with his father while Wolves coach/president of basketball operations/part-owner Flip Saunders remains hospitalized because of complications resulting from his cancer treatment.

"The most important thing is family," Mitchell said when camp began. "When he's here, he's a valuable asset on our coaching staff. But when he has to not be here, we understand that. We're a family. You make exceptions when you have things going on within your family."