MIAMI — The question for the Miami Heat now is whether Jimmy Butler can put some teeth into the team’s preseason. Listed among the four players not traveling Thursday for Friday’s exhibition finale against the Houston Rockets, it was with the caveat that Butler could join the team in time for the 8 p.m. game at Toyota Center once he gets through a dental procedure
An appearance not only would be Butler’s first preseason outing but also have a potential opening-night lineup in place of Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kevin Love, Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry. Herro was held out of Wednesday’s 107-104 exhibition loss to the Brooklyn Nets at Kaseya Center due to a bruised left thigh. Butler was listed as out due to return-to-competition reconditioning, with Love and Lowry given the night off. The Heat fell to 2-2 in their five-game preseason with the loss.
Do I feel like I need to get in a preseason game? Not really,” said Butler, who said a trip back to Houston, near where he was raised, was not a particular allure. “I think I’m in great shape. I think we get out here and compete, see what we need to see. But if I’m available, I’m available.” Also not traveling Thursday were Jaime Jaquez Jr. (groin), Josh Richardson (foot) and Haywood Highsmith (knee). Off the team’s injury report were Herro, Caleb Martin (knee) and R.J. Hampton (hip).
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