Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are on the Miami Heat’s roster as they get ready for their final group play match of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. The Heat need to win this game badly to get back on track in the NBA Power Rankings.
While Adebayo is still expected to play after being listed as probable with a left hip contusion, the Heat have ruled Butler out due to a right ankle sprain, first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Originally listed as questionable to play, the Heat will now be without Butler for their second consecutive game.
Butler did go through light warmups ahead of this past Saturday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, but the All-Star was unable to go due to his ankle injury. The Heat ended up losing this game 112-97
Butler has averaged 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from beyond the arc in 14 games this season. Butler has had the greatest impact on the Heat of any player in this league, despite the fact that his stats may not reflect it.
When Butler is not in the starting lineup on Tuesday, players like rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Caleb Martin should be able to step up and make an impact, just as they did when the star was out last Saturday.
