Jimmy Butler said that the Philadelphia 76ers were locked in following their win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.

“We can do something special. We talk about it every single day. Everything we do, we’re locked in, focused. We know what we can do. We know what paper says we can do. We know what people expect us to do. Name it. We got to be the ones to go out there and do it. And the crazy thing is, I know that we’re capable of doing it,” said Butler.

Butler added that there was no lingering animosity between him and the Timberwolves' organization.

“It’s basketball, bruh. I’ve still got a pretty decent relationship with a lot of guys over there. I don’t think nobody is going to take nothing personal. I’m cool with that. I’m a 76er right now, and we’re going to take it that way moving forward. I wish everybody the best of luck. I wish everybody the best of health. It is what it is.”

Joel Embiid, who sat out the first game of the Philadelphia 76ers' 3-game road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves last night, will miss the last 2 games of their road trip for rest.

Brett Brown said the situation "wasn't ideal," but that the team had to get Embiid ready for the playoffs.

"This is not sort of a reaction to symptoms. It's just load management. Again, we're just trying to be smart and deliver him to play in the playoffs ready to go," added Brown.

Jimmy Butler had 12 points and 13 rebounds in his first game back in Minnesota since getting traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers defeated the Timberwolves 118-109.

Butler was booed every time he touched the ball.

"I don't care about being loved all the time. It's no fun that way," said Butler. 

Brett Brown added that Butler thrives under pressure. 

"He thrives under blankets of controversy. I greatly respect it, and I think when you look at the high-level competitors, it is part of their DNA. It is certainly part of his DNA."

Billy Lange has left his job as assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers to become head coach of St. Joseph's.

Lange joined the 76ers in 2013.

Lange was previously associate head coach at Villanova University under Jay Wright and, before that, the head coach at Navy.

Joel Embiid said he had to prove that the Boston Celtics couldn't guard him following the Philadelphia 76ers' 118-115 win.

"I've been hearing that these guys can guard me better than anyone else, so I had to come out and show that I'm the most unstoppable player in the league," said after the game.

Embiid finished with 37 points and 22 rebounds while shooting 20-21 from the free-throw line.

He also had an important block on Kyrie Irving in the last minute of the game.

"That is why I am the best defensive player in the league," he added.

Tobias Harris had identified the Philadelphia 76ers as a potential free agent destination this offseason even before he was traded there by the Los Angeles Clippers.

"I was excited," said Harris when he was asked how he reacted to his trade. "The talent level of this group and the opportunity … it didn’t catch me off-guard, but the talent was exciting. I saw the group they put together, with Joel (Embiid), Ben (Simmons) and Jimmy (Butler), and to be part of that was all I could ask for. It’s a lot of talent in one mix, so I knew we’d have stuff to figure out."

Harris has become the glue between the top four players of the 76ers, which is a role he has embraced.

“100 percent, I see myself as the connector here,” Harris told The Athletic. “Just having these games so far, and the way I’m playing, I think guys are realizing that I’m here for one reason. It’s to help this team get to the championship, and be a force around the league. I think guys are respecting and noticing that.

“That’s a good way of putting it: Being the connector.

“Help bring guys together. I’ve been around the game a minute now. It’s my eighth year now, and I’ve seen different personalities and different teammates. I know how to communicate with every type of guy.”

Joel Embiid will return to the Philadelphia 76ers' lineup when they play the Indiana Pacers on Sunday after missing eight games.

Embiid was out due to knee soreness and hasn't played since the All-Star Game.

The 76ers are 4-4 in Embiid's absence.

"The bottom line is we have come this far in relation to rest after the All-Star break -- personally, I am at a stage where if it requires more time, so be it," Brett Brown said on Wednesday. "The endgame is obvious: It is trying to deliver him to the playoffs healthy. I do look up from time to time and pay attention to the calendar. It's not like you have an abundance of time."

Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell have been named the NBA's Players of the Week.

Simmons averaged 16.7 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game as the Philadelphia 76ers went 2-1.

Mitchell averaged 34.0 points and 5.0 assists last week as the Utah Jazz went 3-0.

Simmons and Mitchell finished first and second in Rookie of the Year voting last season.

The Golden State Warriors intend to sign Andrew Bogut for the remainder of the season.

Bogut was the league MVP in Australia this past season with the Sydney Kings.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics also showed interest in Bogut.

Bogut averaged 11.6 points for the Sydney Kings this past season, earned the NBL Best Defensive Player Award and was voted to the All-NBL First Team.

Bogut was with the Warriors until he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2016 to create cap space for Kevin Durant.

Andrew Bogut is expected to receive interest from the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers.

Bogut could receive interest from other contenders.

Bogut's season in Australia just concluded as league MVP.