Bulls at Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be hoping for some positive news on All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler as they head home to host the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. Butler left Friday's 120-102 loss at Houston with a right knee injury following a non-contact situation, prompting concern that it could be an ACL issue, although one initial report suggested there was some hope that it may not be so serious.
"The only thing that we know is it's a right knee injury and he'll be re-examined tomorrow," Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game, adding that Butler will undergo an MRI exam on Saturday in Minnesota. Including a loss at Chicago - Butler's former team - on Feb. 9, the Timberwolves are 2-4 in their last six games. Despite that win over Minnesota prior to the All-Star break, the Bulls are mired in a 2-10 stretch and will be beginning a three-game road trip after falling 116-115 at home to Philadelphia on Thursday. Bobby Portis erupted for a career-high 38 points and Zach LaVine added 23 for Chicago, which is three games out of the basement in the Eastern Conference.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE BULLS (20-38): Chicago altered its starting lineup for Thursday's game as it begins to incorporate more of its younger players, giving Cristiano Felicio and David Nwaba rare starts and removing veterans Robin Lopez and Justin Holiday. Nwaba impressed with a career-high 21 points while making all three of his 3-point attempts, and Cameron Payne made his season debut a solid one with seven assists as he threatens to steal minutes from Jerian Grant. "It really is hard," coach Fred Hoiberg told the media of the impact on the older players. "It's hard for Robin, it's hard for Justin and it's hard for Jerian, who's probably making as big a sacrifice as anybody."
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (36-26): If Butler did indeed suffer a serious injury, Thibodeau will receive more criticism for the manner in which he leans on his stars, as Butler entered Friday leading the NBA with 37.3 minutes per game and teammates Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns were ranked in the top 15. Wiggins led the way in Friday's loss with 21 points in 36 minutes while Towns chipped in 18 points and 13 rebounds for his league-leading 52nd double-double. Power forward Nemanja Bjelica picked up four straight starts when Butler went down with a right knee injury in January, averaging 11.5 points and seven rebounds.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Butler entered Friday leading Minnesota in scoring (22.4 points per game), ranking second in assists (five) and third in rebounds (5.5).
2. Bulls PG Kris Dunn is 9-for-27 from the floor in three games since returning from a concussion.
3. LaVine, who was traded with Dunn from Minnesota to Chicago in the Butler deal last offseason, scored a season-high 35 points in the win over the Timberwolves earlier this month.