Heat must advance to playoffs without Jimmy Butler who suffered MCL injury in loss to 76ers
The Miami Heat not only lost its most important game of the season Wednesday, but the Heat also lost its best player for what could be the duration of its postseason run.
After undergoing an MRI on Thursday afternoon, Heat star Jimmy Butler was diagnosed with a sprained MCL in his right knee and will miss several weeks.
This unfortunate news comes with the Heat now facing an elimination game in the play-in tournament for the second straight year.
“We will do this the hard way,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said following Wednesday night’s narrow 105-104 play-in loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. “That just has to be the path right now.”
Butler’s absence will make things even harder, as the Butler-less Heat will look to keep its season alive in Friday’s win-or-go-home play-in matchup against the Chicago Bulls at Kaseya Center (7 p.m., ESPN).
Butler, who was able to finish Wednesday’s game after hurting his right knee late in the first quarter, would miss the Heat’s first-round series against the top-seeded Boston Celtics if Miami defeats Chicago on Friday to advance to the playoffs.
“I hope that I’m fine,” Butler said Wednesday night in Philadelphia before an MRI revealed the MCL sprain. “I hope that I wake up tomorrow and can still stick-and-move. Right now, I can’t say that’s the case.”
The Heat also will be without point guard Terry Rozier against the Bulls on Friday. It will mark the sixth straight game that Rozier has missed with neck spasms.
Duncan Robinson did not play in his fifth straight game on Wednesday despite being available against the 76ers because he’s continuing to recover from a back issue. He’s listed as probable for Friday’s game.
Butler’s injury happened in the final seconds of the opening period when Butler caught a
the ‘Playoff Jimmy’ of lore. The Heat led by as many as 14 points but could not close the deal and now faces an elimination game.
“It felt like I couldn’t do too much, which sucks with the timing of the game and everything,” Butler said. “I hope that I’m fine. I hope that I wake up tomorrow and can still stick-and-move. Right now, I can’t stay that’s the case.”
The reality is, Wednesday’s result became moot at the final horn. Because all that matters now is what’s next. (Including Butler’s health.)
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra used the loss as a reason to summon Heat Culture. He likes to do that.
“We will do this the hard way,” said Spoelstra, as if that were preferred. “That has to be the path right now. We’re going to rest up, treat up, rally around each other, and get ready for Friday. Again, embrace these competitive games. It will be competitive in front of our home fans.”
We assume Miami, in the bayside arena Friday night, will handle the underdog Bulls, which had a losing record this season.
Because how dare we be denied Heat-Celtics and the next chapter in Miami’s greatest sports rivalry? This is the now-era animus.
The teams have met six times in the postseason and the last four reunions have been for the Eastern Conference championship. Three have gone the full seven games. And Miami has won three of those past four — including last season, when Boston also was higher-seeded and (supposedly) better but the Heat won.
It may be a media contrivance, but the narrative now will be that the Heat has the Celtics’ number. That all of the pressure will be on Boston, which hasn’t won anything since 2008. Jayson Tatum, are you ready to live up to hype and expectations? Finally? (are you sure ...?)
Maybe we have set out again on a great sprung into summer.
A year ago at this time the Heat and Florida Panthers took South Florida sports fans on a double joy ride that lasted two full months. From April 11 through June 13 we watched two teams that were low-seeded and barely in the playoffs at all unexpectedly reach the NBA and NHL championship series before each losing in the finals.
Now both are back at it — the Heat once more a low seed again relegated to the play-in round, the Panthers this time a high seed sneaking up on no one.
Florida edged Boston for the division title on the last day of the regular season to draw the rival Tampa Bay Lightning in a tough firstround matchup.
Now the Heat is one home win away from a delicious opening series against a Celtics team that — on paper — should be favored to win the NBA championship ...
... but first must get past their nemesis Heat. There are so, so many reasons why we love sports.
Heat-Celtics in the playoffs is right up there.