The Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler, who leads the NBA playoffs in scoring, remains questionable for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Knicks on Saturday. Butler’s sprained ankle, sustained during the team’s Game 1 win against the Knicks, has kept him out of Game 2. Butler’s status for Game 3 is uncertain, and the Heat remain tight-lipped about it.
Butler’s Status Still Up in the Air
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra announced on Friday that Butler worked out with the team but declined to offer an update on his status. The coach intends to wait until closer to the game time before providing any update. Overall, Spoelstra refuses to tip his hand on Butler’s status, stating that he will only update the media on how Butler is feeling on Saturday.
Butler took to social media to share that he was putting himself through a shooting workout on Thursday night. Despite his absence, Miami Heat’s coach praised his team’s competitiveness, stating that “our guys love to compete, any place, anywhere, against any team.”
It was only the fourth game Butler has missed since the last week of January, and two of those were the final two games of the regular season with the Heat locked into the play-in tournament at that point.
New York Knicks Ready for Butler’s Comeback
After Game 2, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau made it clear that his team is ready for a Butler comeback. Thibodeau acknowledged that his players were also dealing with injuries, but his team is always prepared for any scenario. If Jimmy is available, then we’ll have a plan for him, said Thibodeau.
Miami Heat’s training room has been a busy place this week as the team has already lost shooting guard Victor Oladipo for the rest of the season, and shooting guard Tyler Herro will be out for several more weeks due to a hand injury. Wing players Max Strus and Caleb Martin were both dealing with some back pain at times during Game 2, although they were able to finish the game.
With no games scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, both the Heat and the Knicks get a much-needed breather. Julius Randle, who returned in Game 2 from an ankle sprain, and point guard Jalen Brunson, who has been playing through an ankle issue, are also nursing injuries.
Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry expressed optimism about Butler’s return, saying that he knows how competitive Butler is. But Lowry also acknowledged that the team has to go day by day with Butler’s injury status.
Butler’s Playoff Record
Going back to the final two games of last season’s Eastern Conference finals, Butler has been on a playoff tear. He’s averaged 36.9 points on 57% shooting from the field while averaging 7.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in his last eight postseason games. In the six playoff games so far this season, he’s averaging a league-best 35.5 points on 59% shooting, with 6.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
Butler’s status remains a mystery as the Heat and the Knicks head into Game 3. His absence in Game 2 was felt by the Heat, who fell to the Knicks 111-105. The Heat will be hoping for a speedy recovery for Butler, who has been the team’s star player in the playoffs so far.
