Wolves vs. Thunder: Durant returns, Tyus gets start tonight

The Wolves open their seven-game preseason schedule tonight against Oklahoma City at Target Center.

This one's on radio, if you want to hear the dulcet tones of team play-by-play guy Alan Horton. But, like the revolution, it will not be televised.

Thunder superstar Kevin Durant plays his first game since last February. He has been back for all of training camp after he played just 27 games last season because of that fractured foot that wouldn't heal.

ESPN's Marc Stein is in town for Durant's first game. Sports Illustrated's Lee Jenkins is here, too, working on a Wolves piece.

Asked after shootaround this morning if tonight is something of a milestone for him, Durant said, "I haven't really looked at it like that, to be honest. Since the first day of camp I've just been trying to grind it out with my teammates. I don't think about me being injured, I just want to pick up where I left off. I haven't played an NBA game in a long time, just like these guys haven't played in a long time. I try to look at it like that and not put too much pressure on myself."

Don't expect either Durant or Russell Westbrook to probably play any more than 20 minutes tonight in what's the Thunder's preseason opener too.

Tonight also is the debut of new Thunder coach Billy Donovan, the former University of Florida coach who replaced fired Scott Brooks during the off-season.

Saunders coached Donovan with Rapid City in the CBA in the late 1980s and the two have remained friendly since then.

"You know, I've known Flip for a long time," Donovan said. "I've had great respect and admiration for him. He has always been a great guy...I feel terrible for him and his family, for what he has been going through. I've known Flip for a long time. He has been wonderful to me."

The Wolves will start two 19 year olds, two 20 years old and a 39 year old -- Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyus Jones, Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins and Kevin Garnett -- and the old guy after shoot still sounds taken with the youngsters.

Jones is starting at point guard Ricky Rubio, who is being held out because of what the team lists a minor quad strain.

He uses the word "great" when talking about the prospects for such a young bunch.

One last thing: LaVine talked at shoot about flying to Oklahoma City in July for a night's work shooting a Foot Locker commercial with Durant. He said he didn't get much of a chance to visit with Durant because Durant came and went, but Durant praised LaVine and the young Wolves.