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Not quite two weeks after he left, Andre Miller returned to Target Center Tuesday night and started for a San Antonio Spurs team that has lost as many games all season — 10 of 'em — as his former Wolves team did the first three weeks in January.

It wasn't much of an emotional homecoming for a 17-year veteran point guard now playing for his ninth different team.

"I wasn't here that long," he said.

He signed a one-year veteran's minimum contract with the Wolves last summer intending to play important minutes for coach Flip Saunders. Everything changed when Saunders died in October, the Wolves changed course under interim head coach Sam Mitchell and Miller, Kevin Garnett and Tayshaun Prince primarily became mentors to young teammates.

Now he suddenly finds himself with a five-time NBA champion that, believe it or not, trails 56-6 Golden State by just 3½ games.

"I didn't ask for it, it just happened," Miller said about playing for the Spurs. "It's cool. I've been playing against these guys for a long time. Just to get an opportunity to monitor how they prepare themselves for games, that's what I'm observing."

He watched for most of his first three games with the Spurs and didn't play at all during Monday's loss at Indiana. But he started Tuesday's game while Tony Parker and Tim Duncan rested, Manu Ginobili didn't play because of a toe contusion and Gregg Popovich didn't coach because of a family medical matter.

"I enjoyed my time here, got a chance to meet some good guys, some young guys," Miller said. "I got the opportunity to interact with two older guys I played against. I never had a chance to be around Tayshaun and Kevin before, so it was a good experience. It's just two different mind-sets: A young team and a veteran team. Hopefully, those guys can get it together over there and have the opportunity to stick together for some years."

Steering the ship

Spurs assistant and longtime European coach Ettore Messina took over Tuesday. He, too, returned to Target Center, where he coached CSKA Moscow in a 2013 preseason game.

"It's always an experience," he said about coaching in Popovich's place. "The machine is a well-oiled machine that goes on. You try to sit at the wheel and try not to steer and try not to mess it up. Just keep the steering straight."

Etc.

• Miller's teammate Kevin Martin hadn't joined him yet, but all of Martin's gear was shuttled down the hallway to the Spurs' room Tuesday. Bought out and released by the Wolves, Martin hasn't officially signed yet. The Spurs still need to create a roster spot for him.

• Wolves backup center Greg Smith played Tuesday after he was a late scratch Monday in Charlotte because of an infected toe.

• Wolves guard Zach LaVine played Tuesday with his right shoulder taped. He said he has nurtured his body through increased playing time and a busy schedule. But when asked about his shoulder, he said: "I don't know about that. My shoulder is a little messed up. I'm all right. I'm not a big complainer. I'm OK."