DENVER (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler is available to play in a pivotal matchup against Denver after missing 16 games with a right knee injury.He wasn't listed in the starting lineup Thursday night against the Nuggets, who are right on the Timberwolves' heels in the playoff chase.Butler recently told reporters he was "this close" to a return, but was considered doubtful for the game.Butler has been out since suffering a knee injury on Feb. 23 at Houston. He had surgery two days later to repair the meniscus and has steadily been working his way back.The Wolves are 8-8 since Butler was sidelined. He's averaging 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have been stumbling down the stretch, trying to hold on long enough for the franchise's first postseason appearance in 14 years.Jimmy Butler might be back just in time.The All-Star shooting guard, whose fearlessness with the ball and tenacity defending it has been badly missed by the team, told reporters after practice on Tuesday that he's "this close" to being back on the court.Butler was a full participant in the workout, coach Tom Thibodeau said, and his surgically repaired right knee would be evaluated again on Wednesday.The Timberwolves play at Denver on Thursday, one of two matchups left with the Nuggets. They're one of their primary competitors for the remaining playoff spots in the stacked Western Conference, where the fourth and eighth places were separated by two games entering the games on Tuesday. The Nuggets are ninth."I'm going to wake up one day and be like, 'Let's go play some ball,'" Butler said. "It's just, when that day's... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Jimmy Butler is nearing a return to action, with four critical games to go for the team in the regular season.Butler told reporters after practice on Tuesday that he's "this close" to being back on the court. Coach Tom Thibodeau said Butler was a full participant in the workout. His surgically repaired right knee would be evaluated again on Wednesday.The Timberwolves play at Denver on Thursday. The Nuggets are one of their primary competitors for the remaining playoff spots in the stacked Western Conference. The Wolves are 8-8 since Butler was hurt, in quite the fight to reach the postseason for the first time in 14 years.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have seven games to go in this strenuous regular season, coming tantalizingly close to the tormented franchise's first appearance in the playoffs in 14 years.The trouble is their once-sturdy postseason bid is also teetering on the brink of being painfully denied.Beginning a supposedly softer stretch of their schedule that has the potential to help propel them to the finish line, the Timberwolves took an egregious loss on Monday to a languishing Memphis team that had lost all 17 road games to date in 2018. The outcome only furthered the doubt among an embittered fan base about whether the Wolves can hang on long enough without All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler to finish in the top eight in the Western Conference."We have to keep pushing forward. For some guys, this is a new experience. This is about your will," coach Tom Thibodeau said after the 101-93 loss. "You can't approach it without knowing what you have to put into it."The word Thibodeau... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — After 20 years in the NBA, Dirk Nowitzki can't be fooled.He knows when teams aren't giving an honest effort, when they are out there playing but not playing to win."It's pretty obvious," Nowitzki said.While easy to spot, tanking is not so easy to stop, the NBA is finding.It's a problem for the league office, which has fined owners, chastised teams and sent out league-wide memos on the topic. And with big brother watching, teams are abiding by the letter of the law, but arguably not the spirit of its intent.Tanking is viewed as a solution — sometimes the only one — for some teams and their fans, hoping something good can come from being bad if they cash in at the lottery and land a top draft pick.Nearly a third of the 30 NBA teams are brutally bad this season, and it's hard to believe some aren't losing on purpose. Phoenix, Memphis, Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas, Sacramento, Brooklyn, Chicago and New York are all on track to lose 50 or more games, and only the Nets aren't motivated... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — After 20 years in the NBA, Dirk Nowitzki can't be fooled.He knows when teams aren't giving an honest effort, when they are out there playing but not playing to win."It's pretty obvious," Nowitzki said.Easy to spot, the NBA is finding tanking not so easy to stop.It's a problem for the league office, which has fined owners, chastised teams and sent out league-wide memos on the topic. And with big brother watching, teams are abiding by the letter of the law, but arguably not the spirit of its intent.Tanking is viewed as a solution — sometimes the only one — for some teams and their fans, hoping something good can come from being bad if they cash in at the lottery and land a top draft pick.Nearly a third of the 30 NBA teams are brutally bad this season and it's hard to believe some aren't losing on purpose. Phoenix, Memphis, Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas, Sacramento, Brooklyn, Chicago and New York should all lose 50 or more games, and only the Nets aren't motivated to lose — they... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — After 20 years in the NBA, Dirk Nowitzki can't be fooled.He knows when teams aren't giving an honest effort, when they are out there playing but not playing to win."It's pretty obvious," Nowitzki said.Easy to spot, the NBA is finding tanking not so easy to stop.It's a problem for the league office, which has fined owners, chastised teams and sent out league-wide memos on the topic. And with big brother watching, teams are abiding by the letter of the law, but arguably not the spirit of its intent.Tanking is viewed as a solution — sometimes the only one — for some teams and their fans, hoping something good can come from being bad if they cash in at the lottery and land a top draft pick.Nearly a third of the 30 NBA teams are brutally bad this season and it's hard to believe some aren't losing on purpose. Phoenix, Memphis, Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas, Sacramento, Brooklyn, Chicago and New York should all lose 50 or more games, and only the Nets aren't motivated to lose — they... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jimmy Butler could return to the court for the Minnesota Timberwolves before the end of the regular season, if he continues to stay on track with his rehabilitation from surgery on his right knee.He's predictably having a hard time sitting and waiting.Butler spoke to reporters Sunday for the first time since the meniscus injury he suffered Feb. 23 at Houston , confirming an initial recovery estimate of four to six weeks after the Feb. 25 procedure. Even on the long end of that timetable, he'd likely have two games with the Timberwolves before the postseason.That's if they hang on to their spot, of course, but Butler said he's confident that will happen. He expressed an equal amount of faith in his ability to heal in time."I can't give you the exact date, but I want to come back and I want to help," said Butler, who sat courtside during the 129-120 loss Sunday to the Rockets in his first appearance on the bench since he was hurt.Wearing a black sport coat with, yes, gray... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jimmy Butler could return to the court for the Minnesota Timberwolves before the end of the regular season, if he stays on track with his rehabilitation from knee surgery.Butler spoke to reporters Sunday for the first time since the meniscus injury he suffered Feb. 23 at Houston . He confirmed an initial recovery estimate of four to six weeks. Even on the long end of that timetable, he'd likely have two games with the Timberwolves before the postseason.Butler said he's confident in both his ability to heal in time and the team's ability to hang on to a spot in the playoffs. The Wolves entered their game against the Rockets in a three-way tie for fifth place in the Western Conference, but no room for a slump.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

For Derrick Rose, what's old is new again.Rose has signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, reuniting the 2011 NBA MVP with three mainstays from his days in Chicago: coach Tom Thibodeau and teammates Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson. The Timberwolves did not release contract terms, but a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press the deal is for the remainder of the season.Rose was in uniform for the Wolves on Thursday night against Boston, but he didn't get in the game."The only thing I'm missing now is the opportunity," Rose told reporters in Minnesota earlier in the day. "Talking to Thibs, he sounds like he's going to give me the opportunity, so it's all about learning the guys and fitting in at the right time."Minnesota will be the fourth team Rose plays for and technically his fourth franchise in the last 11 months. Rose spent his first eight NBA years in Chicago, five of those with Thibodeau as his coach. He was with New York last season and started this season with Cleveland,... [More]

For Derrick Rose, what's old is new again.Rose has signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in a move that reunites the 2011 NBA MVP with three mainstays from his days in Chicago — coach Tom Thibodeau, as well as Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson. The Timberwolves did not release the terms, but a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that the deal is for the remainder of the season.Rose may debut as early as Thursday night, when Minnesota plays host to Boston."The only thing I'm missing now is the opportunity," Rose told reporters in Minnesota on Thursday. "Talking to Thibs, he sounds like he's going to give me the opportunity, so it's all about learning the guys and fitting in at the right time."Minnesota will be the fourth team Rose plays for, and technically his fourth franchise in the last 11 months. Rose spent his first eight NBA years in Chicago, five of those with Thibodeau as his coach. He was with New York last season and started this season with Cleveland, but appeared... [More]

For Derrick Rose, what's old is new again.Rose has signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in a move that reunites the 2011 NBA MVP with three mainstays from his days in Chicago — coach Tom Thibodeau, as well as Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson. The Timberwolves did not release the terms, but a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that the deal is for the remainder of the season.Minnesota will be the fourth team Rose plays for, and technically his fourth franchise in the last 11 months. Rose spent his first eight NBA years in Chicago, five of those with Thibodeau as his coach. He was with New York last season and started this season with Cleveland, but appeared in only 16 games with the Cavaliers largely because of injuries.The Cavaliers traded the former All-Star to Utah last month as part of the massive restructuring of their team, and the Jazz waived him shortly afterward.Rose has been working out since, and this week became a father again — just days before striking... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves say All-Star guard Jimmy Butler underwent successful meniscus surgery on his right knee.The team announced Sunday that the operation was performed by Dr. Diane Dahm at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Dahm is the team's orthopedic surgeon.Butler will be sidelined indefinitely. The team says further updates on his progress will be issued as he begins rehabilitation.The injury occurred Friday in a loss to the Houston Rockets.Butler is averaging 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He has played in 56 games.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves say All-Star guard Jimmy Butler underwent successful meniscus surgery on his right knee.The team announced Sunday that the operation was performed by Dr. Diane Dahm at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Dahm is the team's orthopedic surgeon.Butler will be sidelined indefinitely. The team says further updates on his progress will be issued as he begins rehabilitation.The injury occurred Friday in a loss to the Houston Rockets.Butler is averaging 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He has played in 56 games.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota All-Star Jimmy Butler has a meniscal injury to his right knee that the Timberwolves are optimistic will not sideline him rest of the season as they try to end the NBA's longest playoff drought.The team stopped short of calling the injury a tear, and coach Tom Thibodeau said he didn't want to speculate on timing. Still, the news Saturday could've been worse for the organization, which feared a season-ending torn ligament after Butler had to be helped off the floor Friday night in a loss at Houston."The big thing is ruling out the ACL, that would've been an extended amount of time, so we're hopeful that it's not too long," Thibodeau said.Nemanja Bjelicao started in Butler's place on Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls."A guy like Jimmy, you don't replace him individually, you have to do it collectively," Thibodeau said.Butler was hurt in the third quarter of Minnesota's 120-102 loss and had the MRI on Saturday at Mayo Clinic. In his first season with the... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves say Jimmy Butler has had an MRI that revealed a meniscal injury to his right knee.The Timberwolves did not provide a timeline for Butler's absence Saturday, but it is likely good news that it is a cartilage injury, and not a ligament.Butler was hurt Friday night at Houston in the third quarter and had to be carried off the court by a pair of teammates. The Wolves lost 120-102 to the Rockets and the All-Star had the MRI on Saturday at Mayo Clinic.The Wolves said more updates on Butler's progress would be issued when information became available.In his first season with Minnesota, Butler has helped lead the team to the thick of the Western Conference race, averaging 22.2 points. They were in fourth place before play Saturday, in position to end a 13-year absence from the playoffs.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota All-Star Jimmy Butler will not play in the game against Chicago with the Timberwolves anxiously awaiting further word on the right knee injury he suffered the night before.The Wolves declared Butler out for Saturday against the Bulls, his former team.More news on his condition was expected closer to tipoff. He was hurt on Friday at Houston in the third quarter, needing assistance to leave the court. The Wolves lost 120-102 to the Rockets.In his first season with Minnesota, Butler has helped lead the team to the thick of the Western Conference race, averaging 22.2 points per game. They were in fourth place before play on Saturday, in position to end a 13-year absence from the playoffs.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

HOUSTON (AP) — Minnesota All-Star Jimmy Butler left the Timberwolves' game against the Houston Rockets with an apparent injury to his right knee.After grabbing a rebound late in the third quarter Friday, Butler pivoted and planted hard on his right foot before collapsing and grabbing his right knee. He was on the floor for at least three minutes before he was carried off the court by two teammates. He appeared to avoid putting weight on his right leg when heading to the locker room.Butler leads the Timberwolves with 22.4 points and 1.9 steals per game, adding 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in his first season with Minnesota after being traded from Chicago in the offseason.

Golden State and Cleveland are used to looking down at the rest of the NBA, though it's Houston and Toronto enjoying that view at the All-Star break.The Rockets and Raptors are the conference leaders and will try to keep rolling when play resumes. Houston has won 10 straight to edge past the Warriors, and Toronto is two games up in the East after seven consecutive wins.So, are the Raptors the best team in the East?"I don't know. The record says we are, but for me to sit here and say we are the best team — we have confidence, but I'm not going to sit here and say we are the best team," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. "Right now, we're No. 1. The numbers say that."Houston coach Mike D'Antoni says the Rockets like being in the Warriors' spot, but don't talk about them — for now."Nobody's ready for that yet," he said. "So as we go forward we'll see what we got, but yeah, we would love to be the No. 1 team without a doubt."___While Commissioner Adam Silver discussed the idea of revamping the... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James and Kevin Durant swarmed all over Stephen Curry in the final seconds, preventing the NBA's best shooter from finding even a patch of open air to launch a tying 3-pointer.Defense? In an All-Star Game?That was just one of the many exciting surprises created by a big change to the league's midseason showcase. After James and Curry got to draft their own teams, this exhibition really seemed to matter to basketball's best.And LeBron picked a winner.James scored 29 points and hit the go-ahead layup with 34.5 seconds to play, winning his third All-Star Game MVP award while his team rallied to win an uncommonly entertaining edition of the event, beating Team Stephen 148-145 Sunday night.For the first time in 67 All-Star games, the league abandoned the traditional East-West format used since 1951, instead allowing the two captains to pick their sides. That twist turned a sometimes staid event into the world's richest pickup game, and the intrigue was reflected on... [More]