{"id":60294,"date":"2023-12-26T18:00:45","date_gmt":"2023-12-26T23:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=60294"},"modified":"2023-12-26T18:00:45","modified_gmt":"2023-12-26T23:00:45","slug":"nba-rumors-jimmy-butler-kyrie-irving-and-joel-embiid-injury-return-dates-plus-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/12\/26\/nba-rumors-jimmy-butler-kyrie-irving-and-joel-embiid-injury-return-dates-plus-more\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Rumors: Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving and Joel Embiid Injury Return Dates, Plus More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler<\/strong><\/a> missed his third straight game in the Heat’s 119-113 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day. It was the seventh game of the season that Butler has sat out. The Heat have won three straight games and are 4-3 with Butler this season.<\/p>\n

NBA Rumors: Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving and Joel Embiid Injury Return Dates, Plus More<\/h2>\n

Miami (18-12) begins a five-game road West Coast trip on Thursday at Golden State (15-15). Will Butler play? That is up in the air. What is known is that Butler will be on the flight with the Heat when they leave Miami, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s going to go on this road trip with us,\u201d coach Erik Spoelstra said. \u201cWe have another day before the next practice, two days before we get to San Francisco. I really don\u2019t know right now what the timetable is. We\u2019ll have a better idea by then.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Butler’s rehab suffered a setback when he took ill over the weekend. If Butler misses any more time, Jaime Jaquez Jr<\/a>.<\/strong> will likely remain in the starting lineup. Jaquez turned in a career night against the 76ers, recording his first double-double while setting a career-high with 31 points and 10 boards. He was 11 of 15 from the field and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line.<\/p>\n

Jaquez has scored in double-figures in three straight games. The 22-year-old rookie averages 15.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in his seven starts.<\/p>\n

Miami has a few others dealing with injuries. Caleb Martin<\/strong><\/a> suffered a sprained ankle in the first quarter of Monday’s game. Martin’s status is still being determined, though Spoelstra spoke after the Christmas Day contest.<\/p>\n

“Who knows?\u201d Spoelstra said of the uncertainty with Martin. \u201cYou ask him and any player right now would say they\u2019re fine. He sprained his ankle. I didn\u2019t see footage of it. We\u2019ll see how he responds.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Haywood Highsmith<\/strong> <\/a>(illness) and Josh Richardson<\/a> <\/strong>(back) sat out the game against Philadelphia and are considered day-to-day.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Joel Embiid Status Undetermined<\/h3>\n

While Miami was without a few players last night, so was Philadelphia. The 76ers (20-11) were without Joel Embiid<\/strong> <\/a>(ankle) and Nicolas Batum<\/strong><\/a> (hamstring).<\/p>\n

Embiid didn’t even make the trip to South Beach due to the sprained right ankle. It was the big man’s first absence since Dec. 1; the Sixers are 0-4 without him this year. Embiid is reportedly undergoing daily treatment,\u00a0with his status undetermined for Wednesday’s game versus Orlando.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s doing OK,\u201d said Nurse about Embiid before the Miami game<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s obviously not playing and not here. The status for the next game is still up in the air so he\u2019s just getting a lot of treatment and doing OK.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Meanwhile, Batum has missed three straight games and it looks like he will be out even longer.<\/p>\n

Brandon Miller Day-to-Day<\/h3>\n

The Charlotte Hornets missed out on another significant injury on Saturday. Already without Mark Williams<\/strong><\/a>, LaMelo Ball<\/strong><\/a>, and Terry Rozier<\/strong><\/a>, the Hornets got a scare when Denver Nuggets Peyton Watson<\/strong><\/a> landed on\u00a0 Brandon Miller’s<\/strong><\/a> foot after he drove to the basket in the first quarter. Miller didn’t return to the game and is considered day-to-day with a sprained ankle, according to Charlotte Observer Roderick Boone<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It is the second time Miller has suffered an ankle injury. He suffered a left ankle sprain Nov.12 against the Knicks and dealt with the injury throughout the month, but he only missed two isolated contests.<\/p>\n

Miller, questionable for tonight’s game against the Clippers, has had his up-and-downs in his first NBA campaign. The 19-year-old has shot the ball decently well and averages 14.4 points with a shooting slash line of .436\/.376\/.788. However, he has struggled defensively and hasn’t rebounded that well.<\/p>\n

Ball and Frank Ntikilina<\/strong> <\/a>remain out, while Rozier isn’t on today’s injury report. However, Williams will likely miss his eighth straight game with a back injury as he is listed as doubtful.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s moving around a lot better these last couple of days,\u201d Hornets coach Steve Clifford told Boone. \u201cI think he feels better. I don\u2019t know how close he is. This is a good stretch for us because we had two days off and don\u2019t play again until the 26th. So I\u2019m hopeful. He\u2019s in here doing his treatment and doing everything he can to get betterhere doing his treatment and doing everything he can to improve. But he was moving better today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grant Williams Moved To Bench<\/h3>\n

Dallas<\/a> Mavericks coach Jason Kidd made a starting lineup adjustment prior to their 128-114 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Christmas Day night. Kidd benched Grant Williams<\/strong><\/a> in favor of Tim Hardaway Jr<\/strong><\/a>., who made his third straight start.<\/p>\n

Williams will be coming off the bench for the foreseeable future. Kidd told ESPN’s Tim McMcMahon that his starting lineup, once Kyrie Irving<\/strong><\/a> returns from injury, would be Irving, Luka Doncic<\/strong><\/a>, Dante Exum<\/strong><\/a>, Derrick Jones Jr<\/strong><\/a>., and Dereck Liveley II<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

The Mavs\u2019 planned starting lineup once Kyrie Irving returns, per Jason Kidd:<\/p>\n

Luka Doncic
Kyrie Irving
Dante Exum
Derrick Jones Jr.
Dereck Lively II<\/p>\n

Exum\/Jones duo has +14.7 net rating in 190 minutes this season.<\/p>\n

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 26, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n