MEMPHIS – The Timberwolves didn't know if they were going to have neither, one or both of their top two point guards for their game against Memphis.
It turned out to be neither.
Both Jeff Teague and Shabazz Napier missed the game, with Teague not even making the trip because of an illness and Napier out because of a strained right hamstring. It meant the Wolves had to do some shuffling at the top of the lineup and at the back end to provide some depth at the position.
Rookie Jarrett Culver, who has ball-handling capabilities, earned his first career start because of the injury and illness, with coach Ryan Saunders saying the Wolves used a point-guard-by-committee approach to try and compensate for Teague's and Napier's absences.
Culver finished with a team-high seven assists and scored 15 points.
"One of the things I like with this group is our wings being able to play interchangeable positions," Saunders said. "[They can] handle the ball some and then you've got a big who you can initiate offense through Karl [-Anthony Towns]."
Andrew Wiggins also spent some time handling the ball and matched his season-high with six assists.
"You simplify some things," Saunders said. "He's [Wiggins] always liked being in pick and rolls. We like having him and Karl work together."