Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Jimmy Butler went down to what appears to be a serious knee injury late in the third quarter of Friday’s game against the Houston Rockets.
The injury itself doesn’t look good, as Butler was not able to put any weight on the knee in question. He immediately exited the court and went into the X-ray room for further evaluation.
Jimmy Butler fell to the floor and immediately grabbed his right knee on this play. pic.twitter.com/5RpPCINsaZ
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) February 24, 2018
Following the game, Wolves head coach Tom Thibodeau noted that Butler would indeed undergo an MRI when the team returns to Minnesota. The mood in the Wolves’ locker room was also said to be “somber.”
Thibs said Butler will have MRI after Team returns home tonight, wouldn’t “speculate” but mood is very somber
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) February 24, 2018
There’s not going to be any further word on the extent of Butler’s injury until the MRI results are available. But for now, it most definitely doesn’t look good.
Butler and his Wolves entered Friday’s action as the fourth seed in the Western Conference before dropping to Houston by the score of 120-102. In his first season with the team, the four-time All-Star is averaging 22.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game. If serious, this injury would be a major blow for the up-and-coming Timberwolves.