Wednesday night at Target Center, for the first time in six games, Thaddeus Young was in the Wolves lineup. Young is still getting over the death of his mother, Lula Hall, from breast cancer, a pain that isn't going away soon. But already he's trying to use the situation to help others.

On Tuesday, through the team, Young released a statement thanking all the people who reached out to him in the wake of his mom's death.

But then he went a step further. Young took the opportunity to push for routine breast exams, urging his fellow NBA players and fans to follow suit. "Please encourage the women in your lives — the mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, aunts and girlfriends — to get screened for breast cancer," he said.

Wednesday night Young and his teammates took the court wearing pink shoelaces, both to promote breast cancer awareness and honor Young's mother.

The idea was spearheaded by Wolves GM Milt Newton, who called the league offices to ask how the team might honor Hall.

"I just think something has to be done," Young said after the team's morning shootaround Wednesday morning. "A lot of people, they go through their lives without going to the doctor sometimes, without the proper procedures to get tested.''

Young's mother's cancer was not detected by a routine exam but only after she noticed a lump in her breast, resulting in a long-term struggle with the disease.

"I thank our GM for going out and calling the league to approve this," Young said of the pink shoelaces. "I thank the league for approving it for tonight's game."

His teammates were happy to assist.

"It was cool the NBA allowed us to do that," guard Zach LaVine said Wednesday morning. "I was all for it. The whole team was all for it. It's going to be special for [Young], and we're going to go out there and play our hearts out."

Youth being served

A league milestone was observed when Wednesday's game began. Minnesota's starting five included LaVine and Andrew Wiggins, while Milwaukee started Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker. All four are 19, and it's the first time in NBA history four teenagers played in the same game.

"I think it's great," Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd said. "I think it's great for both franchises. I'd say both sides would say they're happy with their young guys.''

Point center?

Before the game, when Wolves coach Flip Saunders said veteran guard Mo Williams would be unable to play (strep throat and pink eye), the question was, who would be LaVine's backup at point guard?

By committee, he said. Some Corey Brewer, some Chase Budinger. And:

"You might see point center Robbie Hummel," Saunders cracked.

Hummel was asked if the position of backup point center was new to the NBA. "I'm pretty sure this has to be a first," he said. "I've never seen anything like this."

Whalen honored

Lynx point guard Lindsay Whalen was honored during the first half of Wednesday's game for her part in Team USA's gold medal effort at this fall's world championships.

For Whalen, who normally plays overseas, this is a rare chance to spend Thanksgiving in her home state; Whalen decided early on that, after another WNBA season followed by the FIBA tournament, it was time to take a break. "It's good to be home," she said.