Missing players force plenty of Wolves lineup changes

Saturday night, in the Timberwolves' 12th game of the season, coach Flip Saunders went with his eighth starting lineup.

Injuries, ailments and personal situations have robbed the Wolves of depth and continuity; the team used just 13 starting lineups last season.

And it's all happened in such a compressed time frame that Saunders had to go all the way back to his days in the Continental Basketball Association for a comparison.

"One time we had three NBA call-ups in our conference finals," Saunders said.

But, unlike in the CBA, replacing downed players is not an easy thing to do. "It's challenging," Saunders said. "I told our players, we have to go through this. … I'm just trying to figure out points.''

It's not easy. Saturday's starting lineup of Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, Gorgui Dieng, Corey Brewer and Mo Williams featured only two players who entered the night averaging at least 10 points a game in Wiggins (11.0) and Brewer (10.0).

Each night, Saunders has been going through the roster and the starting lineup trying to figure how the Wolves are going to score without four starters.

"I figured out we'd get 92 points," he said.

The Wolves lost to San Antonio 121-92. "Unfortunately I was right. I should have said 123," Saunders said.

He tried to create a roster with enough veteran experience to help the group of young players.

Unfortunately Ricky Rubio (ankle), Nikola Pekovic (wrist and ankle) and Kevin Martin (wrist) are out and will likely stay out for a while.

Thaddeus Young, who missed his fifth game Saturday following the death of his mother, is expected back in the Twin Cities in time for Monday's practice.

"We've just got to stick together, stay confident," the second-year forward said. "There are a couple bumps on the road, but I'm sure we'll be fine."

Rubio remains weeks away from a return, but he has a presence nightly on the Wolves bench.

On crutches and dressed in the latest European fashions, he often is advising rookie point guard Zach LaVine and on Friday had some spirited words for Wiggins after the rookie came out of the game following a productive third quarter.

"He was just telling me that's how I have to be every time I step on the court, try to have that dog in me to try and impact the game every time I step on the court," Wiggins said.

"It's a process, a long season. Every day I'm learning and growing and getting more comfortable in different situations."

"When they're not running plays for me, I've just got to really pick my spots, move without the basketball and cut into space," Wiggins said.

Bennett and Wiggins were reunited Friday with Spurs guard Cory Joseph and Saturday with Kings rookie Nik Stauskas. All four players are from the Toronto area.

"The Canadians always keep in touch with other Canadians, just to see how they're doing," Bennett said.

When someone told Bennett it's nice that he and Joseph at least speak the same language, Bennett said, "That's funny."

•  Wolves General Manager Milt Newton represented the team at the funeral for Young's mother Friday.