As much as Timberwolves interim coach Sam Mitchell wants to get a glimpse of a full lineup in his system this preseason, there's something that is a bigger priority:
Ricky Rubio's health.
Mitchell will have Rubio sit out Wednesday night's exhibition opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center.
"If you're not practicing him, it doesn't make sense to play him in a preseason game," Mitchell said. "Everybody else is ready to go."
Rubio, who had been cleared to play after recovering from a severe ankle injury last season, missed the past three practices with a quadriceps strain.