Minnesota Timberwolves: Player matchups vs. the Rockets

4. Jimmy Butler vs. James Harden

Again, the Rockets have the advantage at the shooting guard position. This time, however, it’s only by a small margin.

Despite Harden being an offensive wizard, there’s one thing he still lacks somewhat is on the defensive end of the floor. You can score all you’d like too, but if you can’t stop your opponent from scoring, your only hope is to outscore them at that point.

Butler should be able to make this matchup even, or at least close. Butler is not on the same level offensively as Harden, but not many people are. Harden looks to be on his way to win MVP this season after another offensive year.

Harden can dish the ball, rebound and score from basically anywhere on the floor. Whether that be from 3-point range, inside the paint or at the free throw line. He goes to the line a ton; no one in the league averages more attempts from the free throw line per game than him. This season, he averaged 10.1 attempts per game.

Butler’s defense will be able to at least slow him down, if not stop him. This season they’ve done a great job “slowing” him down. Butler was injured in the third meeting, so he was held to 25 minutes and didn’t play at all in the fourth meeting.

Against Minnesota, Harden is averaging 27.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 10.3 assists per game. This is all while holding him to shoot a field goal percentage of 38.5 and a 3-point percentage of 35.3. Minnesota has slowed him down in his terms, but for Minnesota to win this battle, stopping Harden is priority number one.