Anthony Edwards, back from an injury at the end of last postseason, hasn't looked limited. From Minnesota's postgame: "I haven't really noticed anything that he hasn't been able to do or anywhere he's been particularly cautious."
Don't read the Timberwolves' bench groupings as a depth chart yet. Beyond the starters, no second or third unit is set. From Minnesota's postgame: "We're just trying to get guys some minutes right now. So I wouldn't look at things as first, second, or third."
"So for him to come back and be able to play the game that he loves to play, that's all God." Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu, after the Oct. 7 preseason game, on Tyrese returning to the court from his Achilles injury. Health matters most, Dosunmu said.
Terrence Shannon Jr. has been switched onto power forwards, and the Timberwolves guard says his body can handle it: "I feel like I'm physically able to guard a 4." What still needs work, he said after the Oct. 7 preseason game: rebounding and boxing out.
New center Ivica Zubac means adjustments for Indiana's starters. "Zu did a lot of great things, but he's a different kind of player than we had in there last year," said Rick Carlisle. Tyrese Haliburton said he has to slow down in pick-and-roll to let Zubac set his screens.
Braden Smith, Indiana's rookie from Purdue, was heckled by Iowa State students, over possibly taking Lipsey's roster spot, per a post shown to Rick Carlisle. Smith still finished plus-11. Tyrese Haliburton was dumbfounded: "We beat the shit out of Purdue last year."
Tyrese Haliburton played his first game in 16 months, at alma mater Iowa State. Rick Carlisle said he made "a full recovery" after shingles in rehab lasting 6-8 weeks, maybe longer. As students booed, Haliburton didn't consider going back in: "We're in a process here."