Wednesday night, for the second time this season, the Wolves played without Jimmy Butler.
It was Topic A on a newsy day — Andrew Wiggins returned after missing three games because of a quad contusion, and Jeff Teague sat out with a sore left knee.
Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said Butler's sitting had nothing to do with his desire to be traded, saying it was due to "precautionary rest and general soreness.''
Asked if Butler would accompany the team on its upcoming five-game road trip — one that starts Friday at Golden State — Thibodeau acted as though he didn't know.
"That's where we are,'' Thibodeau said. "Day to day.''
Teague has soreness after banging knees with LeBron James in the Wolves' victory over the Lakers on Monday night. He had an MRI Wednesday, and Thibodeau said he thought the injury was just a bruise.
A source told the Star Tribune that Butler's absence is part of a regularly scheduled rest, and Butler told ESPN's Rachel Nichols via text: "Because my body is hurting and I don't want to go out there and risk an injury, people make stuff up? What are they going to do when I show up and hoop on Friday?"
He also indicated he would be with the team on the upcoming trip.