The Miami Heat had a tough matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. The game got even tougher when Jimmy Butler left in the first quarter and the Heat went on to lose 104-97.
Jalen Williams scored 33 points, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 25 to lead Oklahoma City to its seventh consecutive victory. (Tuesday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup final does not count in the standings.) After playing nine of their past 11 games on the road, Thunder players were ready to go home. But they were still focused on Friday’s game.
When Butler left with 4:41 remaining in the first frame, most observers thought he had injured his ankle. Butler appeared to turn his left ankle stepping on Luguentz Dort’s foot as the Thunder forward stole the ball from him on the wing. The veteran has missed five games with ankle issues this season.
As the Heat called timeout, Butler walked to the locker room with trainers. Before the second quarter began, the team announced that he wouldn’t return to the game — due to illness.
Reports then circulated that Butler has been dealing with a stomach bug. That led to questions of whether Butler should have tried to play if he wasn’t feeling well. Yet after the game, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said that Butler was in the lineup because he said he could play.
“I’m not thinking any other thought,” Spoelstra told reporters. “If guys say they can go, we’re going right now.”
Butler finished with no points and two assists, one game after he notched a triple-double in a 125-124 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday with 35 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals.
Despite Butler’s absence, the Heat fought the Thunder tough behind Tyler Herro’s 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Bam Adebayo added 17 points and 10 rebounds, while requiring seven stitches above his eye after taking a hit to the face in the third quarter.
“Next man up,” Adebayo said of Butler’s exit. “We checked on him at halftime, but we gotta figure this thing out. You can’t harp on who’s in, who’s out. It’s about going out there and trying to get the W.”
Butler has been the subject of trade rumors, seeking a long-term contract extension that the Heat aren’t willing to pay. Leaving Friday’s game will fuel speculation that he’s ready to leave Miami. Butler didn’t travel to Orlando for Saturday’s game versus the Magic. Yet he could still join the team in time to play, according to reports.
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