MINNEAPOLIS - Jimmy Butlers surprise return to the Chicago Bulls starting lineup should really come as no surprise at all. [url=http://www.texansrookiestore.com/Texans-Max-Scharping-Jersey/]Max Scharping Jersey[/url] .Butler is the embodiment of the Bulls mind-over-matter mantra, and he returned just

MINNEAPOLIS - Jimmy Butlers surprise return to the Chicago Bulls starting lineup should really come as no surprise at all. Max Scharping Jersey .Butler is the embodiment of the Bulls mind-over-matter mantra, and he returned just in time to teach No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins a hard-to-swallow lesson.Butler coaxed the over-aggressive Wiggins into a foul with 0.2 seconds left. Then Butler calmly knocked down two free throws to help the Bulls weather another absence from Rose in a 106-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.Butler scored 24 points on 6-for-12 shooting in his season debut and Pau Gasol added 29 points and six rebounds for the Bulls, who missed Rose with a sprained left ankle.What a way to kick off the season, Butler said. Im happy we got a dub. Wins are hard to come by, so on to the next one.Kevin Martin scored 33 points and hit a 3-pointer for a 105-104 lead with 2.9 seconds to play.Then Butler took the inbounds pass, stumbled to his knee, gathered himself and pump-faked to get Wiggins up in the air.I said, Oh Im going to get him, Im going to get him, Butler said. I gave him the pump fake and he bit on it.Ricky Rubio tied a career high with 17 assists in his first game since signing a four-year, $55 million contract extension. But the Wolves lost starting power forward Thaddeus Young to a strained neck on a scary collision with Butler just before halftime.The Bulls led by 16 points in the first half, but Anthony Bennett and Martin led a Wolves comeback in the final two quarters. Martins big 3 came after two offensive rebounds, but Wiggins was too aggressive on Butler on the final possession.I couldve changed the outcome of the game, Wiggins said. It was a learning experience for me. It hurt, but the good thing about the NBA, Ive got another game in a couple days.Rose warmed up before the game, but the Bulls made a late decision to rest their former MVP who has missed most of the last two seasons with knee problems. Taj Gibson also missed the game with an ankle injury, but the Bulls were buoyed by Butlers return.The shooting guard missed the first two games of the season with a sprained left thumb that was expected to keep him out much longer, and he made five of his first six shots to get the Bulls out to a 16-point lead in the first half.Showing no signs of disenchantment from the inability to get a new long-term extension done by the Friday deadline, Butler was a force on both ends as usual.Butler played the entire first quarter and scored nine points while making life miserable for Wiggins on the other end. Wiggins was 0 for 3 at halftime and finished with eight points and six rebounds in 31 minutes.He came in in great shape, and I think thats helped him greatly because when you do take on an injury, the conditionings not going to be the same during that time but because he was in great shape it allowed him to bounce back very quickly, coach Tom Thibodeau said. And Jimmys got a lot of mental toughness. Hes invaluable to us.___ROSE UPDATERose said he couldve played if it was necessary, but didnt want to push it so early in the season. If it was a real need for me to play, I think I couldve played but Im just trying to be smart and trying to give it an extra day, Rose said, and thank God that we came out with the win.TIP-INSBulls: Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said he wasnt concerned with Roses injury and also said he had no doubt in his mind his star point guard would get back to the impact player he was before the knee issues. ... Aaron Brooks scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half. Nikola Mirotic added 12 points and eight boards.Timberwolves: In conjunction with Rubios contract, the Wolves unveiled a ticket promotion dubbed the No. 9 pack in which fans who purchase tickets to eight games get the ninth one — vs. Milwaukee on Nov. 26 — free. ... Martin hit all 11 of his free throws.RUBIOS NIGHTRubio was just 3 for 10 from the field and scored six points and fouled out with 1:13 to play, which bothered him more than the great passing night. I let my team down, he said.UP NEXTBulls: Host Orlando on Tuesday night.Timberwolves: Visit Brooklyn on Wednesday night to start an 18-day road trip. Lonnie Johnson Jersey . Duhamel, from Lively, Ont., and Radford, from Balmertown, Ont., were second with 77.01 points, just behind Olympic bronze medallists Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany. The four-time world champs lead at 79. Max Scharping Youth Jersey . Never caused problems. Never raised a ruckus. Never got sick or hurt while frolicking in the fields of Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky. http://www.texansrookiestore.com/Texans-Jj-Watt-Jersey/ . This week they discuss Russias mens hockey team, the ineptitude of the IOC handling the Nicklas Backstrom situation, John Tortorellas many apologies, and Canadas strong showing in curling.The weak and weary need not apply for Sams Club. TSN basketball analyst and former Toronto Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell announced his midseason inductees to the illustrious self-titled club Thursday, and they all had one thing in common. “Sams Club members come in, we punch the clock, we do our job and we go home,” he told TSNs Cabrel Richards. “We know who and what we are. Were dirt diggers, were grimy, we get in the dirt, we can take it. You know why? Because were mentally tough and we wont give in.” The midseason entrants are not among the NBAs elite and none of them were invited to the All-Star Game in New Orleans on Feb. 16. Here are the selections for Sams Club through the first half of the season. Amir Johnson, PF, Toronto Raptors: “The most important things that Amir Johnson brings to Toronto are mental toughness, rebounding and defence. Hes added the three-ball to his game and you look at Amir Johnson, he had a stretch where he averaged about 18 points a game and shot way over 50 per cent.” Tony Allen, SG, Memphis Grizzlies: “Tough, single-minded, a defensive guy, a guy that fights through screens, a guy that dont need the basketball. Hes been out, missed some games, but theres no better on-the-ball defender than Tony Allen. Lance Stephenson, SG, Indiana Pacers: “Hes in the club because hes tough. Hes not an all-star to me but hes the most improved player. But Lance Stephenson brings a cerrtain toughness, he has a certain bravado that he gives to the Pacers. Tytus Howard Jersey. Taj Gibson, PF, Chicago Bulls: “Taj Gibson is mentally tough. Hes a great defender, shot blocker, takes the toughest four or five every single night. Carlos Boozer has been complaining recently about his minutes in the fourth quarter. Taj Gibson has taken those minutes because he plays defence, rebounds the ball, and now lately hes scoring the basketball.” Nicolas Batum, SF, Portland Trail Blazers: “He takes the toughest offensive player every night, whether its point guard, two-guard or small forward. Very unselfish guy, doesnt call for the ball, excellent shooter, just plays his role.” P.J. Tucker, SF, Phoenix Suns: “Just tough. Just put him out there. See, part of being a part of Sams Club is you have to get better every year in and year out. Now P.J. Tucker is over a 40 per cent three-point shooter, a guy that can shoot, but hes the best defender on this Phoenix team. You talking about tough, gritty and grimy, theres nobody in the United States that I would rather walk down a dark alley with.” While Stephenson looks to be the front-runner for the NBAs Most Improved Player award, the other new members of the Sams Club will likely not see any league-wide recognition for their efforts. Mitchell, though, doesnt think a lack of attention will bother this group of “dirt diggers.” “We dont want it.” ' ' '