In the aftermath of the Miami Heat’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Play-In Tournament, All-Star forward Jimmy Butler will be out for multiple weeks with a sprained MCL, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The expectation is Jimmy Butler will be out for multiple weeks with what is feared to be an MCL injury, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/SJId33jAoM
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 18, 2024
Jimmy Butler Suffers Knee Injury Ahead of Must-Win Game
Butler sustained the injury with 1.5 seconds remaining in the first quarter. After receiving a signature full-court inbounds pass from teammate Kevin Love, Butler pump faked to get Sixers wing Kelly Oubre in the air and draw a shooting foul.
However, in doing so, the 200-plus pound Oubre landed on Butler’s right leg. In pain, Butler rolled around, grabbing his right knee.
Jimmy Butler goes down, grabs at his right leg and screams.
Erik Spoelstra: “What the f*ck was that?”
Alonzo Mourning: “Oh boy.”
Pat Riley looks on in concern. pic.twitter.com/GwcY9ynJd3
— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) April 17, 2024
Following the game, Butler discussed the play, saying “I fell and he landed and my knee just didn’t do well, I guess” (per the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang).
Warrior’s Mentality
Although Butler was hurt, he attempted to tough out the injury, understanding the magnitude of the game. He was hobbled, limping around for the next three quarters. Yet, while his mighty mentality is beyond reproach, he might had been better off sitting out.
Finishing Wednesday’s game with 19 points on 5-18 shooting, it was far from Butler’s best scoring efforts. A two-way playmaker, he still dished out five assists and collecting five steals. Nonetheless, his movement was clearly limited and it hampered him at both ends.
“Honestly, I thought the adrenaline would kick back in and I’d be able to move,” Butler says. “But that just wasn’t the case. I wasn’t able to do anything on either side of the ball and I think I hurt us more than I helped us actually.”
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra would say Butler is “putting himself out there…”
“…I just really appreciate him for that competitive spirit,” Spoelstra adds.
After their loss, Butler was seen wearing a protective sleeve on his right knee.
Jimmy Butler said he expects to undergo an MRI on his knee. https://t.co/lFtY0NmGGr
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) April 18, 2024
“I hope that I’m fine,” Butler told reporters, knowing that Miami must defeat the Chicago Bulls on Friday in order to clinch a playoff berth. “I hope that I wake up tomorrow and can still stick-and-move. Right now, I can’t say that’s the case.”
