The Timberwolves are in Houston tonight for an ESPN game against the Rockets, and they’re losing in the fourth quarter. But they’ve possibly lost something more important than a game.

Jimmy Butler had to be helped to the locker room after going down clutching his right knee, and perhaps most troubling, the injury wasn’t a result of contact:

A look at the replays:

Hopefully it’s somehow not serious, although the nature of the injury, and that Butler had to be carried off the floor, are generally not good signs.

Butler was criticized by some for sitting out the All Star Game, and tonight’s injury is exactly why that was the right decision. Injuries can happen at any time, for any reason. (It’s also why Tom Thibodeau playing his stars so many minutes is generally not a great long-term strategy.)

About Jay Rigdon

Jay is a columnist at Awful Announcing. He is not a strong swimmer. He is probably talking to a dog in a silly voice at this very moment.