Heat Hold Jimmy Butler Out Of Game At Minnesota With Sprained Ankle

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has been ruled out of Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a sprained right ankle, the team announced.

Sprained Ankle Sidelines Butler

Butler suffered the injury in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over the New York Knicks. He was seen limping off the court and did not return to the game. An MRI on Monday confirmed the sprain.

“Jimmy is a tough guy, but he’s not going to be able to play tonight,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We’re going to take it day-to-day and see how he responds to treatment.”

Impact on Heat

Butler is Miami’s leading scorer (21.5 points per game) and rebounder (7.5 rebounds per game). His absence will be a significant blow to the Heat, who are currently third in the Eastern Conference.

“We’re going to have to find a way to win without him,” Spoelstra said. “We’ve got other guys who can step up and make plays.”

No Timeline for Return

The Heat did not provide a timeline for Butler’s return. However, ankle sprains can typically take several weeks to heal.

“We’re not going to rush him back,” Spoelstra said. “We want to make sure he’s 100% before he returns to the court.”

Outlook

The Heat will face a tough test without Butler, as they have a challenging schedule ahead of them. They will play four games in the next six days, including a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.

With Butler out, the Heat will need to rely on other players to step up and fill the void. Caleb Martin, Tyler Herro, and Bam Adebayo could all see increased roles in the coming games.

The Heat will hope to get Butler back as soon as possible, but they are prepared to play without him for an extended period of time.