By the end of Tuesday night in Minneapolis, he was down to 13 minutes against the Charlotte Hornets, a season low, the third consecutive game in the teens. It was the third consecutive game of decline, underlining exactly how much things have gone head-shaking wrong for Kris Dunn.

He got the chance to start five games at point guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves when Ricky Rubio was sidelined and shot 28 percent, although with a commendable assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.30-1. One of the five starts included a nine-assist, three-steal effort and another one featured five steals. As soon as Rubio was able to return from the sprained right elbow, he returned all the way – right back into the opening lineup Saturday and to 24 minutes that night and then 34 and 34 the next two.

Dunn, meanwhile, went from 19 minutesto 14to the 13 on Tuesday, a short-term decline that would go mostly unnoticed later in the season with a larger body of work. But it now becomes another layer of missed opportunities for a 22-year-old who was considered one of the most NBA-ready players in the Draft. The good side is that he is still second in the class in assists, first in steals and seventh in rebounding as the only guard in the top 10, enough to barely hold a spot on The Ladder.

1. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (Last week: 1)

Embiid has at least two blocks in five of his seven appearances, including back-to-back games with four at the start of the month, offsetting continued problems with turnovers and fouls. That has moved him to 3rd in the league regardless of experience, even with time restrictions that have kept him at 22.2 minutes. The 16 total blocks doesn’t just lead the class, it is 10 more than second-place Brandon Ingram. It’s quickly become that kind of race.