Adding a game against one of the strongest teams in the Western Conference certainly wasn't what the San Antonio Spurs needed as far as turning a monumental losing streak around, but that's what they got.
As eight of the league's best-performing teams through the first month of the season went on to compete for a trip to Las Vegas and $500,000 in prize money, the rest of the 22 were assigned two extra opponents.
And for the Spurs, that meant hosting the Chicago Bulls ... after facing the No. 1 seed in the West on the road. It meant an additional road trip to Minnesota.
For a good majority of the Spurs' roster, that wasn't a welcome sight on the updated league schedule. Yes, San Antonio's young core will welcome the challenge of facing another relatively young, yet successful squad, but at the same time, no team wants to add a bout with a top-seeded team. Especially not amidst a losing streak.
But Tre Jones doesn't fall into that majority.
"I am one of the very few excited to get up there, see some family," Jones said of facing the Timberwolves, via the San Antonio Express News. "It’s my daughter’s birthday on the fifth, so we will be traveling there on her birthday. That will be fun as well."
The point guard grew up in the Northern state, where he led his high school varsity squad to four straight state tournament appearances and cemented himself as a top college prospect. He later attended Duke, where, of course, he was able to raise his draft capital to join the NBA, which has led him to play for the Spurs.
So, returning to his roots is certainly welcome.
"It's a big surprise, a bonus for sure," Tre said of the added trip to Minneapolis. "My mom is actually home for it. I didn’t know if she would be in D.C. or not. But she’s home. She will be able to come to the game, most of the family will be there, so it will be really fun to see everybody."
The rest of the Spurs might not be too thrilled about a "freezing" — as Jeremy Sochan described it on his Instagram — impromptu road trip, but Jones is. And the Spurs can only hope that excitement can translate into strong play and spread to the remainder of the team. They'll certainly need it.
San Antonio is set to hit the court inside Target Center against the Timberwolves for the second time this season, with a losing streak to break and revenge to serve. If they can do so, it could mark the beginning of a December turnaround. Just maybe.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CST.
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