MINNEAPOLIS -- Flip Saunders will not coach the Timberwolves in Wednesday's game at Toronto, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.
According to a team spokesman, Saunders will be in Cleveland to tend to his ailing father. Assistant coach Sam Mitchell will serve as acting head coach until Saunders returns to the team.
Minnesota plays Wednesday against the Raptors and Thursday at New York.
It will be Mitchell's second game in Saunders' stead this season; Mitchell oversaw the Wolves' Jan. 5 loss to the Nuggets while Saunders was out with an illness.
Mitchell served as Toronto's head coach from 2004-08, leading the Raptors to a 156-189 record and back-to-back playoff appearances in 2007 and 2008.
Minnesota is 14-52 in Saunders' first season since the franchise's president of basketball operations appointed himself head coach this past summer.
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