Joe Ingles will make his first start of the 2025-26 campaign Wednesday against Orlando, a notable turn for the 38-year-old veteran as Minnesota works through a depleted lineup. Ingles has not started this season before getting the nod.
The move comes with Minnesota down Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Ayo Dosunmu. Edwards is out with a knee injury, Gobert is sitting for rest, Randle is out with a hand injury and Dosunmu is sidelined by a calf injury.
Ingles has played sparingly this season, averaging 0.8 points, 0.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.3 steals in 4.1 minutes per game. The start gives Minnesota a different look against Orlando and puts Ingles back in a role he has not held yet this season.
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For a team missing four rotation pieces, the decision shows how thin the available options are on Wednesday. Ingles does not need to carry the offense to matter here; the bigger story is that Minnesota is leaning on experience to survive a night when its usual core is unavailable.
