Heat’s Jimmy Butler ruled out for Wednesday’s game vs. Rockets with illness
The Heat will be without star wing Jimmy Butler for Wednesday’s road game against the Rockets.
Butler, who was listed as questionable for the contest before being ruled out, is dealing with an illness that also forced him to miss Wednesday’s morning shootaround session in Houston.
“He is wiped out,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Butler after shootaround. “He’s totally out of it this morning. Very similar to what Goran [Dragic] had. So we’ll make do.”
Dragic missed the Heat’s win over the Pelicans on Nov. 16 with a sinus infection.
Wednesday marks the fourth game Butler, 30, has missed this season. He missed the first three games of the season while on paternity leave following the birth of his daughter.
Butler is averaging a team-high 18.9 points on 43.6 percent shooting from the field and 25.7 percent shooting on threes this season. He’s also averaging a team-high 6.7 assists and 2.6 steals.
Along with Butler, the Heat will be without Derrick Jones Jr. (strained left hip), KZ Okpala (strained left Achilles) and Dion Waiters (team suspension) against the Rockets.
Forwards Justise Winslow and James Johnson are expected to be available for Wednesday’s game. Winslow missed the previous nine games with a concussion, and Johnson was not available for Monday’s win over the Hornets because of an illness.
Spoelstra said Winslow will play off the bench Wednesday.
The Rockets will be without center Clint Capela, who is dealing with an illness of his own. Tyson Chandler, 37, will start in Capela’s place against the Heat.
This story was originally published November 27, 2019 at 6:39 PM.
