The bad news keeps coming for the Miami Heat. After losing their Play-In game against the Philadelphia 76ers by 105-104, they may be without their star for the remainder of the postseason, making things quite difficult for the team’s upcoming game.
As per a report by Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Miami Heat are grappling with the uncertainty of Jimmy Butler’s injury. There are fears that he may have suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury to one of his knees in a play at the end of the first quarter of the game against the 76ers, following a collision with Kelly Oubre Jr.
Butler stayed in the game and played 40 minutes, scoring 19 points but at the same time limping and appearing quite uncomfortable, only making 5 out of 18 field goal attempts throughout the night.
Butler himself said that he would get an MRI on his knee on Thursday and that he felt that ‘he hurt the Heat more than helped them’ throughout the game. He also had four rebounds and five assists.
Butler absence could define the Heat’s postseason hopes
Concerns loom over Butler’s ability to continue playing for the remainder of the season, so the Miami Heat are gearing up for a crucial game. After their Play-In game loss against Philadelphia, they are set to face the Chicago Bulls, who emerged victorious against the Atlanta Hawks in their Play-In matchup. Now, they will face the Heat to see who advances to the NBA Playoffs.
The winner of the series between the Heat and the Bulls will advance as the eighth seed to the first round of the NBA Playoffs and will face the Boston Celtics.
