Wolves' rookie Kris Dunn still needs time to adapt to NBA

As Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said before Wednesday's preseason game with Memphis at Target Center: It's supposed to be hard.

Thibodeau was talking about rookie point guard Kris Dunn's first preseason, which he has spent running the Wolves' second unit. Dunn, taken with the fifth pick in the draft this summer, is big, strong and physically ready for the NBA.

But being effective there takes time. Even though, as Thibodeau said, Dunn can be impatient.

"I think he wants to get it all in one minute," he said. "It doesn't work that way."

Playing significant minutes, Dunn has proven to be effective defensively, has done a good job of pushing the ball up the court and finding his teammates. He averaged 4.4 assists and 1.8 steals over the Wolves' first four preseason games. Thibodeau said Dunn, defensively, is NBA-ready.

But he has struggled with his shot.

The Wolves' 101-94 victory over the Grizzlies on Wednesday — one led by the trio of Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine and Ricky Rubio — was another example.

"Game by game I'm getting more comfortable," Dunn said. "I think the last game [a 2-for-9, six-assist, six-point game vs. Oklahoma City] was one of my better games. That's all it is for me, just getting comfortable with my teammates, getting used to my teammates, how the NBA plays. I think everything is coming along."

Dunn said he isn't worried about his shot.

"Not at all,'' he said. "I've been through it in college; I've been in a slump in high school. I mean, it's basketball. You just have to figure out how you can get out of that slump."

Thibodeau agrees with Dunn on one thing: He's getting good shots. Dunn has shown the ability to get into the paint and challenge defenses. But, as he's finding out, it's a bit harder to finish in the NBA.

"Some of them are really good shots," Thibodeau said. "Some are good rhythm shots. Others? The size at the rim is different in college, so he's got to figure that out. But the good thing is his ability to get into the paint, and push the ball up the floor. He's got great vision in transition and he's making some good plays there.''

The Wolves led by nine after a quarter and by 18 at halftime and by as many as 40 in the third quarter, when Thibodeau emptied his bench.

Towns hit seven of 10 shots and made all 17 of his free throws while becoming the seventh Wolves player to score 25 or more points in a first half in a preseason or regular-season game.

•Thibodeau held both Andrew Wiggins and Shabazz Muhammad out of Wednesday's game. Wiggins, according to Thibodeau, had an allergic reaction to something and was being held out as a precaution. Muhammad, meanwhile, has right hip soreness. It marked the second straight game missed for both players. Thibodeau held his five starters and Muhammad out of Sunday's game in Oklahoma City, which was the second game in two nights.