Tribute to late Saunders Thursday

The late Flip Saunders will be honored at Target Center Thursday night before Minnesota’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

There’ll be a permanent banner unveiled prior to tipoff. Auctions of custom sneakers, a special painting and the jerseys worn by the Timberwolves in the game will raise money for the Flip Saunders Legacy Fund, which was established to support individuals and groups in keeping alive the positive impact of his life . The shoe shop Kickstradom is has worked to make a different pair of sneakers for each Timberwolves player, each inspired by the memory of Saunders.

Everyone in attendance will also receive a commemorative coin, in honor of his custom of having a themed keepsake created each season for players and staff.

Everyone in attendance will also receive a commemorative coin, in honor of his custom of having a themed keepsake created each season for players and staff. Saunders also used to randomly hand the trinkets out to people he would meet along the way, in an effort to include fans in the effort and process of each season.

Saunders died three days before the 2015-16 season opener, about 2½ months after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.

76ers

Center Joel Embiid sat out a game Wednesday night against Miami because of soreness in his right ankle. He is scheduled to start Sunday for the Eastern Conference in the All-Star Game.

Warriors

Second-year guard Patrick McCaw will miss at least four weeks after breaking a bone in his left wrist Monday night against Phoenix.