Spoelstra explains decision to sit Butler, Tucker vs. Nets. And updated Heat injury report
Playing its fifth game in seven nights on the second night of a back-to-back, coach Erik Spoelstra explained why the Miami Heat decided to hold out Jimmy Butler and P.J. Tucker on Thursday.
“Look, this was an organizational decision really with the two of them,” Spoelstra said following the Heat’s short-handed 113-107 road win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night. “They’ve been grinding and working. They’re not long-term issues, but they can be if you don’t handle them immediately. I think they’ll really respond from today and tomorrow, and we’ll see where they are on Saturday. This was the decision that made the most sense for our organization, without a doubt.”
Butler missed the Heat’s victory in Brooklyn because of what was listed as “left big toe irritation” and Tucker did not play because of “left knee pain.” The Heat improved to 13-7 without Butler and 6-2 without Tucker this season.
Miami was also without Kyle Lowry (personal reasons), Markieff Morris (return to competition reconditioning) and Victor Oladipo (right knee injury) on Thursday.
The East-leading Heat will again be without Lowry, Morris and Oladipo for Saturday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers (8 p.m., Bally Sports Sun). The Heat, which plays 11 of its next 12 games at home, listed Butler, Tucker, Max Strus (right shoulder sprain) and Caleb Martin (left Achilles soreness) as questionable.
League sources confirmed an ESPN report that Oladipo is expected to make his season debut during the Heat’s season-long seven-game homestand that begins Saturday. The Athletic reported Thursday that the plan is for Oladipo to make his return in Monday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets.
The Heat overcame all of these absences in Brooklyn on Thursday behind a dominant performance from center Bam Adebayo, who finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Tyler Herro also stepped up with 27 points and eight assists.
Two of the Heat’s undrafted players were important, too. Strus totaled 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting on threes and Martin contributed 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
“Everybody else has been in this situation where the number has been called and you have to be productive and reliable,” Spoelstra said. “They’re used to it, it’s not like it’s a shock. Guys have been stepping up big all season long. The beauty of it is everybody infuses confidence in everyone. The veterans infuse confidence in the young players and vice versa, and they’re enjoying each other’s success. That’s a big thing in this league.”
While the Heat decided to take a cautious approach with Butler and Tucker, Martin continued to play through left Achilles pain against the Nets. He has been dealing with the lingering injury since prior the All-Star break, and the pain has forced him to miss five of the last 12 games.
“You just realize when you’re hurt, whenever you’re in that between stage of like you can play but it’s going to hurt and you know you might need to rest. At the end of the day, nobody cares,” Martin said. “Nobody cares if you’re hurt, the other team doesn’t care if you’re hurt. So you realize that nobody is going to take it easy on you because you’re hurt, everybody is going through some stuff. So either you’re going to play or you’re not. If you’re going to play, then play like you’re not hurt.”
The 76ers have not yet released their injury report for Saturday’s game in Miami, as they first host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night before traveling to take on the Heat to complete the back-to-back set.
This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 2:56 PM.
