Them Miami Summer had a tough matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. The game is even tougher when Jimmy Butler Left in the first quarter and the Heat went on to defeated 104–97.
Jalen Williams get 33 points, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s 25 to lead Oklahoma City to its seventh consecutive victory. (Lose Tuesday to those Milwaukee charges in the NBA Cup finals does not count in the standings.) After playing nine of their past 11 games on the road, Thunder players were. ready to go home. But they are still focused on Friday’s game.
When Butler left with 4:41 left in the first frame, many observers thought he had injured his ankle. Butler appeared to sprain his left ankle and continued Luguetz there‘rolling as the Thunder forward stole the ball from him on the wing. The former is lost five games with ankle anchors this time.
As the Heat called timeout, Butler walked to the locker room with the coaches. Before the second quarter started, the team announced that he would not be returning to the game – but because of illness.
Reports then spread that Butler had arrived dealing with stomach bugs. That led to questions about whether Butler should have tried to play if he wasn’t feeling well. However after the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Butler was in the lineup because he said he could play.
“I didn’t think of any other plan,” Spoelstra told reporters. “If people say they can go, we go now.”
Butler finished with no points and two assists, one game after notching a triple-double loss 125-124 to the Detroit Pistons on Monday with 35 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals.
Despite Butler’s absence, the Heat beat the Thunder tough Tyler Hero‘s 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Bam Adebayo added 17 points and 10 rebounds, while he needed seven stitches above his face after taking a blow to the face in the third quarter.
“The next man,” Adebayo said of Butler’s exit. “We checked on it at halftime, but we’ve got to figure this thing out. You can’t play on who’s in, who’s out. It’s about going out there and trying to get the W.”
Butler has come the subject of business rumorsseeking a long-term contract extension that the Heat are unwilling to pay. Leaving Friday’s game will spark speculation that he is ready to leave Miami. Butler did not travel to Orlando for Saturday’s game instead Magic. However you can still join the team in time to play, according to the news.
