Butler very happy with 76ers’ win against Timberwolves
Jimmy Butler revelled in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 149-107 rout of his former team the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA.
Butler faced the Timberwolves for the first time since he was traded to the 76ers in November and he earned bragging rights following Tuesday’s dominant victory.
After scoring 19 points on eight-of-10 shoots, Butler – who asked for a trade late last year – told reporters: “It was everything that I thought it would be.
“Seeing some old faces. Not too much trash talking though, I don’t think anybody’s talking like that. I like the fact that we beat them.”
Butler, who also dished out four assists and tallied two steals, added: “I do want to beat those guys, but I want to beat every team, that’s for sure.
“Like I said, a win at home is always good. By that large of a margin is great too, because guys get rest. I’m taking any and all wins, not just against the Timberwolves.”
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looking right through the past.. to the future!
A post shared by Jimmy Butler (@jimmybutler) on Jan 15, 2019 at 7:27pm PST
Butler demanded to be moved away from the Timberwolves before the start of the season.
Minnesota (21-23) eventually traded him to the 76ers (29-16) in exchange for a package centred around Robert Covington and Dario Saric.
Butler is averaging 18.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game since being acquired by Philadelphia. The All-Star believes he is fitting in well with fellow 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
“I think [Embiid] draws a lot of attention, me as well,” Butler said. “We’re capable of getting everybody a lot of easy shots and I think whenever me or him have the ball, Ben [Simmons] too, I think the defense is locked in on one guy and it gets everybody else a lot of easy shots.”
