Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio came off the bench Thursday for the third time and gave the big home crowd a fright when he landed awkwardly on his healing knee in the first half and came up grimacing in pain.
He played his allotted 18 minutes against Oklahoma City without interruption, however.
"I haven't been told he has been upped, minutes-wise," coach Rick Adelman said before the Wolves' 99-93 victory. "I don't know if because I only played him 16 minutes [in Miami on Tuesday], they give him 20 tonight. I'm waiting to ask that question."
However, Rubio looked more like the guy who struggled Monday at Orlando than the one who impressed during his season debut Saturday against Dallas. He went scoreless again and had three assists, three rebounds, a steal and two turnovers.
"He's trying too hard," Adelman said afterward. "I fully expected him to have problems. It's just nice having him on the court."
Learning curve Alexey Shved's NBA introduction continues. Tuesday, he faced Dwyane Wade for the first time and got an education. On Thursday, he got a look at Russell Westbrook.
"We've put him in a situation he probably shouldn't be in," Adelman said. "We didn't envision him starting against Dwyane Wade. ... [Shved is] a typical rookie. Wade went after him and he's looking at officials and everybody else to help him. It's just the way it is."
Shved responded with his first NBA career double-double on Thursday. He ended up three rebounds short of a triple-double, finishing with 12 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds.
Etc. The Wolves got their first look at the Thunder after it traded away James Harden just before the season opener. But they didn't get a look at one guy the Thunder received in that trade with Houston: Guard Kevin Martin did not play because of a bruised quadricep.
Dante Cunningham decided he was fit to play after banging his knee Tuesday.
