ATLANTA – Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau called for starting point guard Jeff Teague to finish Saturday's game, but Teague never did, for a reason you might not expect.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Teague told his coach to leave reserve Tyus Jones on the floor because Jones and Jamal Crawford had helped rebuild a double-digit lead over Brooklyn.
"I just felt like were about to go on a run for some reason," Teague said. "In the playoffs, you're going to need someone to come off the bench and give a great spark. It could be Tyus. We know Jamal has the ability to give a great spark. You've just got to build a little trust with them, you know what I mean?
"Give them the opportunity and see what they can do. If they do well, it's good for everybody."
So Jones finished the game while Teague — nursing a sore ankle and wrist — watched.
"That's the thing," Thibodeau said. "You're seeing a lot of guys now sacrificing for the team, putting the team first. In order to win, that's what you have to do … That's what I love about both Jeff and Tyus: They're team-first guys all the way."
Teague played to the end Monday and finished 1-for-12 for two points.
He has had shooting games of 2-for-11, 6-for-17, 3-for-11 and 0-for-4 as well in January after he returned from a sprained knee ligament. He said he has played the past two games with a sore wrist he hurt Thursday at Golden State.
