Jimmy Butler Had To Be Carried Off The Floor After Injuring His Knee

The Minnesota Timberwolves are enjoying an encouraging season, and in short, the best campaign for the franchise since Kevin Garnett’s prime. However, things could spin into peril in the aftermath of what occurred on Friday evening, as All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler had to be carried off the floor during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets.

Butler appeared to suffer a non-contact knee injury, and he was quickly surrounded by teammates and team personnel before being helped to the locker room while putting no weight on the leg in question.

The 28-year-old entered the evening averaging 22.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for the playoff-bound Wolves, and while other parts of the team have certainly improved since last season, Butler is the biggest difference for a team that has zoomed ahead from a development standpoint. It is, of course, too soon to assume any firm diagnosis, but if he were to miss extensive time, Minnesota’s hopes of a deep playoff run would be all but dashed.

On the bright side, however, there is some reported optimism in the aftermath of a negative X-ray, even if the MRI remains pending.

More information will almost certainly be available in the near future, but for now, we know that Butler was forced to the locker room with a scary knee injury, and that could spell significant trouble for both player and team.