Watch: Lakers, Timberwolves hold moment of silence for Flip Saunders

Teams around the league honored late Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders as the season got underway Wednesday night.

Teams around the league honored late Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders as the season got underway Wednesday night.

Moments of silence were taken in NBA arenas around the country for Saunders, who died of cancer at age 60 on Sunday. Saunders also coached the Wizards and Pistons during his 17-season coaching career.

The Staples Center, with L.A. hosting Minnesota, held a moment of silence for Saunders, one of the league’s most respected, well-liked people. Here’s video of the pregame gesture:

[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUq-mS21k4c&feature=youtu.be​]

Minnesota beat L.A. 112–111 in a game that interim coach Sam Mitchell said, “Coach would be proud of us.” Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins detailed how Adam Silver’s pregame speech helped the Timberwolves play on for Saunders.

The Lakers and Timberwolves also wore shooting shirts with Saunders’s name on them.

The Lakers and Wolves honoring Flip tonight. pic.twitter.com/YD8bey0olx

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) October 29, 2015

A moment of silence for a leader gone too soon. #RIPFlip pic.twitter.com/tiuUUjknKM

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) October 29, 2015

• RUSHIN: Flip’s extensive reach | GOLLIVER: Saunders was a basketball lifer

Detroit, Miami, Boston, and Phoenix were among the teams to remember Saunders before their games.

Moment of silence before tonight's game for former #Pistons head coach Flip Saunders. pic.twitter.com/JZUraRece4

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 28, 2015

#Heat honor Flip Saunders with moment of silence before tonight's opener. pic.twitter.com/UcMP3qd2jD

— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) October 28, 2015

Classy move by the @celtics with moment of silence for Flip Saunders. #Timberwolves #celticstalk pic.twitter.com/vbnDo0oQ5Q

— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) October 28, 2015

Video via The Cauldron