Rob Dillingham scored 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting and a collection of Timberwolves reserves and hopefuls beat the Guangzhou Loong-Lions 134-74 in an exhibition game Monday night at Target Center.
The Wolves sat eight players, all starters or top reserves, in their third-to-last preseason game and their final one at home. They finish the preseason with games at Chicago on Thursday night and at Philadelphia on Friday night.
Playing a Chinese Basketball Association team before an announced crowd of 8,013, the Wolves started Dillingham and Bones Hyland at guard, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Leonard Miller at forward and rookie Joan Beringer at center. Seven other players came off the bench, with Johnny Juzang scoring 17 points and Rocco Zikarsky 16.
The Loong-Lions starting lineup included three former NBA regulars, all from Big Ten schools: Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin), Victor Oladipo (Indiana) and Tim Frazier (Penn State). The 33-year-old Oladipo, a two-time All-Star with the Indiana Pacers, is trying to get back in the NBA after injuries sidelined him the past two seasons.
The Loong-Lions finished their NBA tour 0-3, having gotten blown out by the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Clippers and now the Wolves.