Butler out 2nd consecutive game for personal reasons
CLEVELAND — The Miami Heat will be without Jimmy Butler for a second consecutive game Monday night when they play the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, with the Heat forward still away from the team due to personal reasons.
The Heat also remain without guard Tyler Herro and center Meyers Leonard, with each to miss their eighth consecutive games due to ankle issues. Like Butler, those two did not travel with the team Sunday.
Because of the absences, the Heat recalled 3-point specialist Gabe Vincent from their G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, as part of his two-way contract.
Butler also missed Saturday’s 124-105 rout of the Cavaliers at AmericanAirlines Arena, with his absence not injury related.
In addition, Butler missed Friday night’s Heat tribute to Dwyane Wade at AmericanAirlines Arena, with Butler having previously been scheduled to appear in a segment of that event as part of the weekend’s retirement of Wade’s No. 3 jersey.
Butler previously missed two games during the Heat’s recent five-game western trip due to a strained right shoulder, with the Heat losing both of those games. He then returned for the Heat’s split of the final two games of that trip, participated in last Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game in Chicago and then scored 17 points in Thursday night’s road loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
A five-game homestand follows Monday’s game in Cleveland, starting Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In all, Monday will mark the 10th game Butler, 30, has missed since joining the Heat in the offseason on a four-year, $142 million contract, with the Heat 5-4 in his absence.
Center Bam Adebayo said he is poised to again step up in Butler’s absence.
“You don’t have that second dude to back you up,” he said. “That’s also shoes that I need to fill.”
With Butler out Saturday, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra again started Derrick Jones Jr. in his place.
The Cavaliers, by contrast, are getting healthier. After being held out Saturday on the second night of Cleveland back to back due to Achilles soreness, Kevin Love is listed as probable on the Cavaliers’ injury report.