An update on Heat injuries for Monday’s game, including the latest on Jimmy Butler’s ankle
After suffering a sprained right ankle in Friday’s loss to the Clippers, Heat wing Jimmy Butler’s status for Monday’s home matchup against the Magic is in question.
Butler is questionable for the contest because of his ankle injury. In addition, Heat guards Goran Dragic (left calf bruise) and Kendrick Nunn (bilateral Achilles soreness) are listed as questionable for Monday’s game.
Butler said Sunday his ankle “hurts,” but he’s still hopeful he’ll be able to play against the Magic.
“You always just got to listen to your body to tell you the truth,” said Butler, who rolled his right ankle twice before exiting in the fourth quarter of Friday’s loss. “I think we got a great training staff to make sure we have everything that we need so our bodies function the way they’re supposed to be functioning. In the morning, we get up, we do what we always do, some balance, some single leg stuff, see if you can go, get here before the game and do the same thing. Hopefully I am ready to go.
“I want my ankle to be right, so I’m planning on hooping. I know when I wake up in the morning, I’ll be ready to go.”
Butler has missed six games this season — three because of paternity leave, one because of an illness, one because of lower back soreness and another because of right hip soreness. Miami is 4-2 in those games.
“He’s like a superhero, Megatron is what I call him,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Butler. “But ankles are ankles. They will heal on their timeline, not yours.”
As for Dragic, he’s also hopeful he’ll be able to play Monday despite his calf injury.
“The last two, three days I’ve been doing treatment,” Dragic said Sunday. “I didn’t put any pressure on it. I didn’t run or shoot yet, so tomorrow is probably going to be the first time in the morning when I finish treatment. I’ll do a couple of things and see how I’m going to react.”
Along with Butler, Dragic and Nunn, the Heat’s injury report also lists big man Bam Adebayo (right ankle soreness) as probable for Monday’s game. Forward Justise Winslow (lower back bone bruise) remains out.
Because of the long list of injuries, guard Gabe Vincent joined the Heat on Sunday as part of his two-way contract to provide added depth. He has 26 days to spend in the NBA through the end of the G League season and the rest of the time must be spent with the team’s developmental affiliate.
Vincent, who is known for his three-point shooting ability, was signed by the Heat to a two-way contract on Jan. 8. In his four appearances with the organization’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, he has averaged 15.5 points, two assists, 1.3 rebounds and one steal while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from three-point range.
The Heat also recalled forward Chris Silva from the G League on Sunday after a quick two-game stint with the Skyforce. Miami replaced Silva’s two-way deal with a standard contract on Jan. 15, so his NBA days are no longer limited and he counts toward the Heat’s 15-man roster.
