Wolves open camp Monday with late-night Mankato event

The Wolves open training camp late Monday night with a "Dunks After Dark'' promotion at Bresnan Arena in the Taylor Center at Minnesota State Mankato. The event, free and open to the public if you have a ticket, will begin shortly after midnight, with doors opening at 11 p.m.

NBA TV and analysts Isiah Thomas and Greg Anthony are coming to town for a late night, modeled after college basketball's "Midnight Madness," that will feature three 12-minute scrimmages and a "freestyle" period that likely will include a dunk-off involving rookies Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine.

NBA TV begins its coverage at 11:30 p.m. A limited number of tickets will be available at the arena starting at 10 p.m.

Wolves new coach Flip Saunders said a new start to a new season after August's big Kevin Love trade is a good idea. Of course, it was his idea.

"We're still entertainment,'' said Saunders, who's also the team's president of basketball operations. "We're also about getting out in the community and letting people see us. I just thought it was better even for our veteran players. Sometimes when you haven't accomplished what you wanted, doing something different will give it a different feel.

"I just thought it'd get us off to a very positive, enthusiastic, energetic start. And since I don't go to bed until 3 in the morning, it doesn't matter to me.''