The Minnesota Timberwolves have been missing several players recently and now will be missing their coach as well. The team announced that Saunders will be away from the team dealing with a personal matter on Wednesday.
According to the Associated Press’ Jon Krawczynski, Saunders will miss the Wolves game in Toronto as he returns to Cleveland to be with his ailing father.
Flip Saunders will not coach tomorrow night against Toronto. He's headed to Cleveland to be with his ailing father. Thoughts with him
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) March 17, 2015
Wolves assistant coach Sam Mitchell will coach in Saunders’ absence. Mitchell is no stranger to coaching in Toronto. He coached the Raptors from 2004 to 2008, and 1500 ESPN notes that he was named the NBA’s coach of the year in 2007.
It isn’t known how long Saunders will be away from the team, but Wednesday night’s game is the first of a road back-to-back that will also include a stop in New York on Thursday.
According to the Associated Press, Saunders’ status for Thursday’s game against the Knicks is uncertain.
The Wolves have lost nine of their last 10 games, including on Sunday at San Antonio and on Tuesday night against Brooklyn, when Minnesota had only eight healthy players.
