Jimmy Butler returning to Timberwolves lineup vs. Lakers
As the Minnesota Timberwolves cling to a playoff spot, Jimmy Butler is coming back to save the day.
The Minnesota Timberwolves fell into a tie for eighth place in the Western Conference with a 100-96 loss to the Denver Nuggets Thursday night. Jimmy Butler missed a 17th straight game as he recovers from a torn meniscus in his right knee, but after being in uniform Thursday night, he’ll be back on the floor Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Minnesota went 8-9 without Butler, including back-to-back losses to their fellow playoff competitors the Utah Jazz and the Nuggets thus far in April. He is the team’s leading scorer at 22.2 points per game, while also averaging 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
The Timberwolves are in virtual must-win situations Friday night against the Lakers and next Monday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, before the regular season finale at home against the Nuggets next Wednesday night.
Just two games separate the No. 4 seed Jazz in the Western Conference from the tied for No. 8 seed Timberwolves and Nuggets. But Minnesota does hold the tiebreaker over Denver, pending the result of what looks sure to be a crucial regular season finale.
The #TWolves are in eighth place in the Western Conference, a half-game behind New Orleans. Minnesota and Denver are tied based upon the teams’ records (44-35), with the Wolves currently holding the tiebreaker with a 2-1 edge in the season series.
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) April 6, 2018
Jimmy will play tonight, Thibs says
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) April 7, 2018
Butler is not only going to play against the Lakers, but it shouldn’t be a surprise he’s going to start.
Butler making his return to the starting lineup tonight, joined by Teague/Wiggins/Gibson/Towns. Minnesota is 28-17 with this lineup this season.
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) April 7, 2018
Butler makes a dramatic difference all-around, intangibly and tangibly as the Timberwolves are essentially 13 points better per 100 possessions with him on the floor. They are 34-22 (roughly a 50-win pace) when Butler has played this year, and 10-13 (a 35-36 win pace) when he has not been available.
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Butler has averaged 25 points, seven assists and 4.3 rebounds per game in three games against the Lakers this season, all wins for the Timberwolves. The odds of that mark becoming 4-0 at the most important time of the season just got a lot better with Butler’s return to action.