Minnesota Timberwolves' Jimmy Butler and Jamal Crawford didn't play against the Toronto Raptors last Saturday because of injuries, and according to Nick Friedell of ESPN, the two will also not play against the Los Angeles Clippers tonight.

Butler, who was also the team's leading scorer, had a sore right knee. He didn't walk with a noticeable limp, so the injury may not be too serious.

However, the loss of Butler could still prove to be too damaging for the Timberwolves. After all, the All-Star guard is averaging 21.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and five assists per game this season.

Crawford, who was one of the team's most productive players off the bench, had a sprained left toe. He didn't score a single point in Thursday's game against the Houston Rockets, which may indicate that he was already bothered by the injury during that period.

The loss of Crawford could also prove to be detrimental for the Timberwolves. The former Sixth Man of the Year is averaging 9.5 points per game this season.

It's also important to consider that Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau has been known to have a short rotation of players and give big minutes to those who are actually in the rotation. The loss of significant players such as Butler and Crawford can seriously affect the rotation on the team.

The Timberwolves are in their first legitimate playoff push in a long time, and they will need all their significant players on their roster to be successful. But taking the time to fully heal Butler and Crawford is also a good idea.