Back to the Los Angeles Lakers Newsfeed

Jimmy Butler returns to help shaky Wolves stay afloat in playoff picture

LOS ANGELES -- After seeing a 20-point cushion drop to 15 with just under seven minutes remaining in the game, an upset Tom Thibodeau called for timeout.

With so much at stake in this heated Western Conference playoff race, the Minnesota Timberwolves coach wasn't leaving anything to chance.

Fortunately for Thibodeau and the Timberwolves, they had Jimmy Butler back and the injury-ravaged Lakers lost yet another body when Kyle Kuzma suffered a mild ankle sprain and was ruled out in the third quarter. With Butler looking good, the Timberwolves dispatched the Lakers, 113-96, to snap a two-game losing streak.