Tre Jones was happy to get another trip to Minnesota added to the schedule, even if it was a bit last minute.

When the Spurs and Timberwolves both failed to advance out of group stage in the In-Season Tournament, San Antonio was given an added game at Target Center as one of its fill-in contests, meaning the Apple Valley point guard was granted another chance to play at home.

“All the family is in town for the most part. It’s always good to get back to Minnesota, especially around the holidays,” Jones said Wednesday. “We don’t really get a cold winter down there. So to be able to get some weather like this around Christmas, it’s always fun.”

Jones returns to Minnesota playing in a different role than the one he occupied a year ago. Jones started 65 of the 68 games in which he played last season. Now he’s coming off the bench as part of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich’s grand experiment to throw point guards to the wayside. The coach tabbed second-year wing Jeremy Sochan to bring the ball up the floor for the starting unit.

The results have not been good. The Spurs — who entered Wednesday’s game in Minnesota on a 14-game losing streak — have been outscored by 14.5 points per 100 possessions in Sochan’s minutes this season.

Meanwhile, Jones sports the team’s best net rating among rotation players (at minus-2.9). He’s averaging 5.1 assists while playing just south of 24 minutes per game.

Jones noted he tries to set a certain tone whenever he enters the contest.

“Continuing trying to do what I’ve always done — setting the table for my teammates, trying to get everyone into position. Continue to push the pace for us,” Jones said. “Just try to be a leader for us on the court, be an extension of coach on the court, as well, obviously. He’s big on leadership and everything, so just try to do that for him and our team. Trying to just have us play the right way at all times, but that’s really the main thing.”

Thus far, Jones has connected well with Spurs star rookie center Victor Wembanyama. When the two share the floor — and they have for a total of 200 minutes this season — San Antonio outscores opponents by 7.9 points per 100 possessions. That’s the only two-man combination in which Wembanyama owns a positive net rating. Jones said the 19-year-old center’s understanding of the game allows the two to mesh on the floor.

“He thinks the game at a very high level. He’s very easy to play with in that aspect. Obviously, he’s 7-4 and long and can reach everywhere, he can get to every ball. But his understanding of the game is just very high,” Jones said. “It’s easy to be on the same page with him, whether it’s a pick and roll or he’s sealing on the low block or whatever it is. Just being on the same page with him, even though we haven’t played together a lot, is the main thing.”

Jones said coming off the bench requires “a little adjustment” in regards to his mindset. But his approach to the game hasn’t wavered.

“Obviously knowing that if I continue to play well, I’ll continue to get minutes and just try to set my team up for a victory at the end of the game is the main goal always,” Jones said. “So continue to just focus on making sure that I’m ready when my name is called, continue to make sure I’m as prepared as possible when I go out there and then when I go out there, just continue to do what I’ve always done, follow my instincts and everything.”

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