Tyus Jones

Tyus Jones steals the show in first Wolves start

Published Nov. 28, 2017 3:31 p.m. ET

After more than two years of demands that they #FreeTyus, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally did it.

An injury to starting point guard Jeff Teague forced head coach Tom Thibodeau to set the Apple Valley native loose Sunday against the Phoenix Suns.

In his first start, Jones delivered.

The youngest player in the lineup played just under 39 minutes, notching nine points, seven steals, seven assists, four rebounds and two blocks to help the Wolves to a much-needed win.

With Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler and Co. handling the offense, Jones went to work on the other end, becoming the first Wolves player in nearly two years to have at least seven steals in a single game.

He's just the second player since the 1985-86 season to have at least seven steals in his first start, and trails only Michael Carter-Williams, who had nine in his first start for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jones is the youngest player in Wolves history to nab at least seven, and the eighth in franchise history. It's only been done 13 times.

Player	Age	Date	Opp	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS
Tyus Jones	21	11/26/2017	PHO	4	7	7	2	9
Ricky Rubio	25	12/16/2015	NYK	10	12	8	0	9
Ricky Rubio	23	2/12/2014	DEN	1	12	7	0	11
Andrei Kirilenko	32	4/6/2013	DET	6	3	7	2	13
Ricky Rubio	22	4/3/2013	MIL	4	12	8	0	19
Kevin Garnett	30	1/27/2007	LAC	9	3	7	0	32
Terrell Brandon	29	3/24/2000	NJN	6	9	8	0	14
Kevin Garnett	23	12/14/1999	ATL	15	10	7	1	22
Tom Gugliotta	25	2/21/1995	POR	11	2	7	0	11
Micheal Williams	26	2/24/1993	SEA	5	5	7	0	23
Micheal Williams	26	1/18/1993	LAC	3	16	7	0	20
Tyrone Corbin	28	2/13/1991	LAL	3	5	7	0	12
Tyrone Corbin	27	3/30/1990	DAL	9	2	8	0	17

A fan favorite despite his limited opportunities, Jones was originally drafted 24th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015.

The Wolves dealt a combined three picks to the Cavaliers to bring Jones back to Minnesota, where he starred at Apple Valley High School before leading Duke to a national championship as a freshman.

Other Wolves notes:

-- The Wizards are just 4-5 against Western Conference teams this season, and 2-3 when playing them on the road.

-- If the Wolves are shooting well from beyond the arc, they're probably winning. Minnesota is 8-2 when they make at least nine three-pointers this season, and 6-0 when making at least 10.

-- Towns (32), Butler (25), and Andrew Wiggins (21) scored a combined 78 points against the Suns, the most any Wolves trio has scored this season.

-- Taj Gibson has been at his best during his first season with the Wolves. The veteran power forward is averaging 31.5 minutes, 7.8 field goals and one steal per game with a .531 field-goal percentage and a .833 free-throw percentage, all career highs.

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Tyus Jones

Minnesota Timberwolves