By CHRIS HINE
chris.hine@startribune.com
DALLAS – Timberwolves rookie Josh Okogie wasn’t nervous when coach Tom Thibodeau told him he would be starting in the place of the resting Jimmy Butler.
Okogie said his time playing with the first unit during the preseason was enough preparation for his NBA regular-season debut on Saturday in the Mavericks’ 140-136 victory over the Wolves.
Okogie didn’t have a small role either after not getting a minute in the first two games of the season. He ended up playing over 28 minutes and it likely would have been more had he not picked up his fifth foul in the third quarter.