Karl-Anthony Towns: Timberwolves had '6th man on the floor' in win over Lakers

The Minnesota Timberwolves had the late Flip Saunders in mind during their season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

The Lakers had a chance to escape with the win, but Lou Williams' last-second floater drew back iron. No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns believes Saunders played no small part in Williams' miss.

"Nine times out of 10 he hits that," Towns said, as relayed by ESPN's JA Adande. "I think the one time ... we had a sixth man on the floor."

Williams had just hit a 3-pointer to trim the Lakers' deficit to one on their previous possession. Then, after a missed shot by the Timberwolves, Lakers head coach Byron Scott called timeout to draw up a play for Williams, before fate - or another supernatural presence - intervened.

Timberwolves head coach Sam Mitchell, who has taken up Saunders' spot on the sideline, didn't go as far as Towns, but he did speak about his late friend.

"We're elated," Mitchell said. "Coach would be proud of them. I know he's looking down and he's proud of these young guys, the way they fought."

In particular, Saunders would have been proud of Towns, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds on 6-of-10 shooting in a brilliant debut.

"I did everything I can to make sure I played as hard for him," Towns said of Saunders, who drafted him this summer. "I was so emotional at the end of the game. I just remember promising him that I wanted to bring as many wins to this franchise as I can, and as much as this franchise can hold. I started my promise out right tonight."

Saunders passed away at the age of 60 due to Hodgkin's lymphoma.