While Miami Heat fans anxiously await to find out the availability of Jimmy Butler for Game 2 versus the New York Knicks, it seems they may have to wait all the way until game time to get a definitive answer.
The Miami Heat have been one of the hottest teams in the league over the last two weeks. After suffering a surprise loss to the Atlanta Hawks to open the NBA Play-In tournament, they were able to bounce back and beat the Chicago Bulls in the second game, and shockingly roll right through the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs.
Related: NBA games today – Get watch times and odds for tonight’s playoff action
And that strong play was not slowed down in Game 1 of their semifinal series against the New York Knicks.
Despite another double-digit deficit — which has become the norm for this postseason run — the team roared back in the second half to secure a dominant 108-101 victory inside Madison Square Garden. What is all the more impressive is they were able to do it despite Jimmy Butler having an obvious ankle injury that he suffered in the closing minutes.
Jimmy Butler stats (’22-’23): 22.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 4.2 SPG, 32% 3PT
While Miami was able to get the win on Sunday, they need their incumbent superstar healthy if they are to advance passed a New York squad that was equally hot coming into the series.
Specifics of Jimmy Butler’s injury have not yet been made clear, but the assumption is a sprained ankle after he noticeably rolled it following a shot defended by Knicks guard Josh Hart. On Monday, head coach Erik Spoelstra gave an update on his star’s status, and it seems that he won’t even know until just before the tipoff of Game 2 in New York.
“He’s doing treatment around the clock. We probably won’t have any update until before the game.”
– Erik Spoelstra [h/t Miami Herald]
It usually can take a couple of weeks to fully recover from a minor sprain. Knicks All-Star Julius Randle missed the final five games of the regular season with an ankle sprain before reinjuring it in Game 5 of their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It forced him out of the opener against the Heat and it is unclear when he will make his debut in the series.
Game 2 of Heat vs. Knicks takes place on Tuesday at 7:30 ET on TNT.