Ricky Rubio played a season low 19 minutes in the Wolves’ 104-100 loss at Washington Tuesday night.
According to the Star Tribune, Rubio played seven minutes in the first quarter and only 12 minutes over the final three quarters. That included a paltry seven seconds in the fourth quarter.
Head coach Rick Adelman said he stuck with J.J. Barea in the fourth quarter because he was “playing well at the time.”
Rubio didn’t like watching from the bench in a game he thought he could help them win.
“I think it affect me in a bad way,” Rubio said. “It can’t happen again. It got me frustrated, but it’s something I have to get through. It [playing time] is coach’s decision. I think J.J. was doing a great job. It’s something I have to accept. I have to improve, and I have to be better next time.”
While Adelman thought Barea was the better closer against the Wizards, Yahoo! Sports points out that Barea would be the first to say Rubio is the better starter and closer.
Rubio will start tonight for the Wolves against the Clippers at Target Center.
