Washington Wizards coach Randy Wittman was not on hand for the start of Saturday night’s game with the New York Knicks because he was attending the memorial service for longtime NBA coach Flip Saunders in Minnesota.
Wittman was hoping to return sometime during the game, the Wizards said.
Saunders, who died Sunday after battling cancer, and Wittman worked together for both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Wizards. Wittman succeeded Saunders when he was fired by Washington in January 2012.
Assistant coaches Don Newman and Don Zierden were coaching Washington at the start of the game.
A moment of silence for Saunders was observed before the game’s start.
