Thibodeau: Knee kept Butler out of 4th quarter
Jimmy Butler sat out the final quarter of the Timberwolves' season-ending loss to the Rockets due to soreness in his right knee, coach Tom Thibodeau said.
Jimmy Butler sat out the final quarter of the Timberwolves' season-ending loss to the Rockets due to soreness in his right knee, coach Tom Thibodeau said.
...on CP3 and Crawford argument in the tunnels. It all ended peacefully. Clear love between the guys, but both were clearly irked by some of the stuff that went on during the series.
Former Clippers teammates Jamal Crawford and Chris Paul exchanged heated words during the second half, after Crawford pushed Paul down to the floor with a forearm. Crawford was t'd up. Now the heated discussion in the tunnels of the Toyota Center. Not even trying to be quiet about it. Paul arguing that whatever Crawford said to him after the tech was uncalled for. Crawford pointing to another moment earlier in the series where Paul knocked him down didn't check on him. The argument is still going.
Tom Thibodeau said Jimmy Butler didn't play in the fourth quarter because of soreness in his surgically repaired knee.
Clint Capela had 26 points and 15 rebounds, James Harden added 24 points and the Houston Rockets pulled away in the third quarter to get another lopsided win and eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 122-104 victory in Game 5 of the first-round...
The Rockets finish off the Timberwolves in five games. Clint Capela caps his big series with a 26-point, 15-rebound night. Jimmy Butler scores only eight points and sits the entire fourth quarter.
What offseason moves can and should the Timberwolves make? Bobby Marks breaks down their options.
Jimmy Butler has not played a second in the fourth quarter. No official word on an injury, but he's been playing hurt all series.
Rockets outscore Wolves 30-15 in the 3rd quarter. The lull that Thibodeau said his team couldn't have tonight. James Harden matched Minnesota's entire team with 15 in the quarter. Houston up 11 heading to the 4th.
James Harden in the last two third quarters: 37 points, 12-19 FG. The Rockets have outscored the Timberwolves by a total of 45 points in those two quarters.
Former Clippers teammates Jamal Crawford and Chris Paul exchanged heated words after Crawford ran over Paul. Crawford was called for an offensive foul and a technical foul.
Clint Capela's energy has been a dominant force. He has 15 points, 13 rebounds and is all over the place defensively.
There was a lot of glaring and bickering among the Timberwolves during the timeout after James Harden blew by Taj Gibson and drove for an uncontested dunk.
The Rockets take the lead with a 10-2 run to start the second half. Houston had an 11-0 run right after halftime in Game 4 to get their 50-point quarter started.
James Harden and Chris Paul combined for only seven points on 3-of-16 shooting in the first half, but the Rockets' bigger problem has been on the other end. The Timberwolves shot 55 percent from the floor en route to a 59-55 halftime lead.
Karl-Anthony Towns went to work when the Rockets went to a small lineup. Mike D'Antoni summoned Clint Capela off the bench after back-to-back baskets by Towns, who has a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) in the first half.
It's another slow start for James Harden and Chris Paul. They've combined for only three points on 1-of-10 shooting midway through the second quarter.
Tyus Jones getting the first turn as the Timberwolves' backup point guard in Game 5 is surprising considering Derrick Rose's performance in the series.
Timberwolves reserve PG Tyus Jones, who did not play Game 4 due to a sore knee, is available for Game 5.
Tom Thibodeau on the Timberwolves' culture: "It's a work in progress. We're still working at it. It's not something you get in a second. It's what you do every day. Everything matters. It's how you approach everything. We've made great strides, and we still have a lot of strides to make."
Here's Astros manager AJ Hinch talking about the Rockets, who can close out the Timberwolves in Houston tonight: "From experience, we've learned that parades in this city are pretty cool; we'd like other teams to have them too."
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portland | 49 | 33 | .598 | - | W1 |
Oklahoma City | 48 | 34 | .585 | 1 | W3 |
Utah | 48 | 34 | .585 | 1 | L1 |
Minnesota | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2 | W3 |
Denver | 46 | 36 | .561 | 3 | L1 |
RD(PK) | PLAYER | POS | SCHOOL |
---|---|---|---|
1(7) | Lauri Markkanen | PF | Arizona |
YEAR | W | L | PCT |
---|---|---|---|
2017-18 | 47 | 35 | .573 |
2016-17 | 31 | 51 | .378 |
2015-16 | 29 | 53 | .354 |
2014-15 | 16 | 66 | .195 |
2013-14 | 40 | 42 | .488 |