Jimmy Butler Ruled Out with MCL Sprain
The Miami Heat officially announced that Jimmy Butler will not be available for their Play-In Tournament clash against the Chicago Bulls due to an MCL sprain. Butler suffered the injury during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers, where he landed awkwardly on his leg in the first quarter. Despite the injury, Butler remained in the game and contributed significantly, scoring 19 points, grabbing four rebounds, and dishing out five assists during the 39 minutes he played.
After the game, Butler expressed his discomfort, stating, “I fell, he landed, and my knee just didn’t do well, I guess… It’s not a good feeling, I can tell you that.” Following an MRI on Thursday, it was confirmed that Butler has a right MCL sprain. Reports from The Athletic’s Shams Charania indicated that Butler may be sidelined for several weeks to recover from the injury.
Additionally, Miami announced that guard Terry Rozier, who was absent from the game against the 76ers due to a neck injury, will also be unavailable for the upcoming match. Rozier has missed the previous five games for the Heat due to neck spasms.
The game against the Bulls holds significant importance as it is an elimination match, with the victor claiming the eighth-seed in the playoffs and advancing to face the Boston Celtics in the first round. The match is scheduled to take place on Friday at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and can be viewed on Sportsnet One or Sportsnet+.
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