Jimmy Butler ruled out for Heat’s game vs. Bucks. Goran Dragic listed as questionable
The Miami Heat may have to face the team with the NBA’s top record without Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic.
After missing Tuesday’s win over the Boston Celtics because of right ankle soreness, Butler has been ruled out for Thursday’s 4 p.m. matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks at Disney because of right foot soreness.
While Butler’s injury is now officially listed as foot soreness, it’s primarily the ankle that is bothering him, according to a league source. It’s not considered a serious issue at this point, and the hope is he’ll return to the court sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, the Heat listed Dragic as questionable for Thursday’s game with a sprained left ankle. The veteran guard limped off the court with 5.2 seconds to play after landing awkwardly on his ankle late in Tuesday’s victory over the Celtics, but the Heat announced that postgame X-rays on his injured ankle returned negative.
Although the Heat’s roster is deep, it can’t afford to lose either Butler or Dragic for an extended period. But with the Aug. 17 start of the playoffs less than two weeks away, Miami also has to find a balance between jockeying for postseason position and making sure its players are healthy and rested for the playoffs.
The Heat, which is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, has already clinched a playoff spot. But Miami is just one game ahead of the fifth-place Indiana Pacers.
Butler, 30, played in the Heat’s first two seeding games at Disney, averaging 19 points on 50 percent shooting from the field, 5.5 rebounds and six assists in 31.6 minutes. He finished Monday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks in 33 minutes.
Butler, a five-time All-Star, is averaging team-highs in points (20.2), assists (6.1) and steals (1.7) in his first season with the Heat. Miami has outscored opponents by 227 points with Butler on the court.
The 34-year-old Dragic is off a strong start at Disney in his sixth man role, averaging 19.3 points on 51.5 percent shooting, 3.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 26.6 minutes in the Heat’s first three seeding games. He scored 25 points in Monday’s loss to the Raptors and 20 points in Tuesday’s win over the Celtics.
Butler has missed 12 games this season, with Miami posting a 6-6 record without him. The Heat is 7-4 in the 11 games Dragic has missed this season.
▪ Rookie forward KZ Okpala has also been ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Bucks because of personal reasons. He has been inactive for each of Miami’s first three seeding games.
BUBBLE UPDATE
The NBA’s bubble continues to prove effective.
The NBA announced Wednesday that 343 players were tested for COVID-19 at Disney since July 29, and zero returned as confirmed positive tests. It marks the third consecutive week the league has announced zero positive player tests.
Two players tested positive upon arrival at Disney in early July, but they never cleared quarantine and left the bubble to isolate at home or in isolation housing.
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 5:34 PM.
