"Nearly a month has passed since point guard Jonny Flynn was cleared to play for the Timberwolves this season, but he continues to search for the rhythm and spark he displayed as a rookie when he started 81 games.

The delay in Flynn's recovery from hip surgery in July is challenging his mental toughness and has made him a reserve for the first time in his career, including grade school, AAU competition, high school and college.

"I never did this my entire life — coming off the bench," Flynn said after Wednesday's practice at Target Center. "I really didn't think it would take this long to get back to where I was last year, but I'm feeling much better physically lately and I'm seeing progress."

Though Flynn has been activated since the Dec. 14 game at Golden State, the second-year guard said he just started feeling the "explosiveness" in his legs the past three games. Flynn underwent surgery on July 27 to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. The recovery process forced him to miss all of training camp and the exhibition season and the first 24 regular-season games.

"Once I get my body back to 100 percent, I should be the same as last year," said Flynn, who will come off the bench tonight against Washington at Target Center. "I'm jumping and moving around more without thinking about it. That was tough to do about a week ago."

In 14 games as Luke Ridnour's backup, Flynn is averaging 4.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.8 turnovers in 16.9 minutes. Flynn averaged 27.6 minutes last season, but he has struggled to regain the sharpness he had with his ballhandling and passing and he has limited his drives to the basket.

"That's going to come," Flynn said of his penetration in the lane.

Wolves coach Kurt Rambis has played Flynn more than 20 minutes in only four games. Flynn is hoping his minutes increase as his body and performance improves. He played the entire fourth quarter last week in the Wolves' overtime loss to Charlotte.

"That felt great to be out there at that point in the game when every possession counted," Flynn said. "I'm a rhythm player, a guy who has to be out there for an extended period of time to get a feel for the game. Coming off the bench for a shorter amount of time is definitely a different feeling for me." "