Despite the Minnesota Timberwolves raising their overall record to 38-26 (fourth place) after three wins and a single loss since the last power rankings edition, any sort of sweet taste in the mouth of Wolves fans was quickly soured when superstar Jimmy Butler went down with a meniscus injury.
After having surgery this weekend, his timetable until the return has been set at 4-6 weeks, just in time to return in the last knockings of the season or early in the playoffs if Minnesota can hold on without him.
The power rankings games started before the All-Star break, however, with the Timberwolves pulling out a 119-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on a night where Target Center remembered and honored the passing of the late, great Flip Saunders.