Jimmy Butler out vs. Jazz and Markieff Morris returns home. The latest on Heat’s injuries
Life without Jimmy Butler will continue for the Miami Heat.
Butler (sprained right ankle) will miss his second consecutive game Saturday when the Heat takes on the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena. But the good news for Miami is that starting center Bam Adebayo will play despite being downgraded to questionable just hours before tipoff after his left knee swelled up following the team’s morning walkthrough.
Adebayo has been dealing with a bruised left knee for the past two weeks and missed the Heat’s road win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 30 because of the injury. He felt good enough to play Saturday, though.
Butler, a five-time All-Star, missed his first game of the season in Thursday’s road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers because of the injury. He sprained his right ankle early in Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center and did not play past the first quarter.
The Heat did not fare well last regular season without Butler, posting a 7-13 record in games that he missed. Miami was 33-19 when he played.
So far this season, the Heat is 0-1 without Butler.
Butler, 32, entered Saturday averaging team highs in points (23.6) and steals (2.1), and ranks second in assists (5.1) and minutes (33), and third in rebounds (5.5).
Without Butler against the Clippers, the Heat started usual sixth man Tyler Herro in his place. Herro again started in Butler’s place on Saturday.
MORRIS RETURNS HOME
Heat forward Markieff Morris returned to Miami, which means he’ll miss at least four straight games because of whiplash after being shoved in the back by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic on Monday. Following Saturday’s game against the Jazz, the Heat closes its five-game West Coast trip on Monday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Morris has not played since the incident occurred with 2:39 left in the fourth quarter of the Heat’s 113-96 loss to the Nuggets at Ball Arena on Monday. Spoelstra said Morris “has already been making progress” and the team felt it was better for him to return to the comfort of his own home.
This story was originally published November 13, 2021 at 3:56 PM.
