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Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves Club, left, seems to want to pass, while Josh Hart of the Los Angeles Lakers defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Monday, October 29, 2018 in Minneapolis. (Jim Mone / Associated Press)
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Timberwolves have ruled out star player Jimmy Butler before his match Wednesday against Utah for "preventive rest".
Head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters at the morning shoot that Butler's absence was not related to his request for an exchange.
"Basically, he missed all the training camp, so he only has pain in general," said Thibodeau.
Butler told ESPN that he planned to attend the Target Center Jazz match and travel with his team on his five-game trek that will start Friday at Golden State. Butler told the network that he would play against the Warriors and disputed the speculation that he would sit Wednesday to protest Wolves' lack of action on his desire to be treated elsewhere.
"Because my body hurts and I do not want to go there and risk an injury, people make up stuff," Butler said.
Thibodeau was uncompromising when asked if Butler would join the team for the trip.
Butler scored 32 points in 37 minutes during Minnesota's Monday win over the Los Angeles Lakers, including his five 3-point attempts in the fourth quarter. The players did not train on Tuesday, which made it strange to set aside the four-time star goalkeeper on Wednesday. Butler did not travel with the team to Dallas for the Oct. 20 game, but that scheduled absence of a defeat by the Mavericks came after playing the day before at the opening match home.
The Wolves also ruled leader Jeff Teague on Wednesday with a left knee injury. He injured him during the game against the Lakers by attacking LeBron James' knee. Thibodeau stated that Teague had undergone precautionary x-rays after reporting pain and swelling.
He also said little striker Andrew Wiggins "should be ready" to play Wednesday after missing three straight games with a strained right quadriceps.
The absence of Butler and Wiggins on their wing allowed rookie Josh Okogie to see his playing time extended. Okogie, Georgia Tech's first-round pick, was 6-of-17 against the Lakers for a career-high 17 points.
"It will be difficult, but we have that next man mentality," said power forward Taj Gibson. "Until now, Josh has been a big surprise for us."
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