Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders told local reporters on Tuesday he's going to continue to start Dario Saric over Taj Gibson moving forward.
Saric started on Monday and finished with 19 points in 33 minutes while shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Gibson, meanwhile, played 21 minutes off the bench and put up 14 points and three rebounds on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the floor.
Minnesota defeated the Los Angeles Clippers by a final score of 130-120.
Ryan Saunders said Dario Saric will start for time being.
Doesn't want to "yo-yo" guys in and out of lineup. Wants to be sure of moves.
"That’s why maybe it didn’t happen a week ago … Nothing is ever set in stone, too. I’m open to changes, I’m open to adapting with things."
— Jace frederick (@JaceFrederick) February 12, 2019
Saunders says he likes the way Dario Saric stretches the floor with the starting unit because it gives All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns more room to operate in the post. When the Timberwolves traded for him from the Philadelphia 76ers, Saric admitted he's more comfortable as a starter, and it showed on Monday.
Saric is averaging 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds on the season. He's shooting 42.8 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from beyond the arc. Gibson, a consummate professional, is averaging 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Despite Monday's win, the Timberwolves are still four games back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Minnesota is 26-30 on the season, 12th place in the West.
We'll see how the Timberwolves' new starting lineup fares against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
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