Overview

• Mike Brown said starters will play into the second half against the Timberwolves on Thursday, a shift from the tightly managed minutes in Abu Dhabi with two more preseason games to follow.
• Jalen Brunson described himself as comfortable yet still learning the new scheme after rebounding from a rough opener with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, and Brown noted visible progress in his on- and off-ball role.
• Karl-Anthony Towns dropped weight to prepare for more time at power forward, and Brown flagged Towns and Guerschon Yabusele as having the steepest learning curve while toggling between the four and five.
• Mitchell Robinson appears penciled in as the opening-night starting center, with the staff evaluating a bigger frontcourt alongside Towns to balance rim protection and spacing.
• Josh Hart is day-to-day with lower back spasms, which Brown said has limited some lineup evaluations early in preseason.