THE Miami Heat had a tough match with the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday evening. The game became even more difficult when Jimmy Butler left in the first quarter and the Heat continued to a 104-97 defeat.
Jalen Williams scored 33 points, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s 25 to lead Oklahoma City to its seventh straight victory. (Tuesday’s defeat against Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup final does not count in the standings.) After playing nine of their last 11 games on the road, the Thunder players were ready to go home. But they were still focused on Friday’s game.
When Butler left with 4:41 left in the first quarter, most observers thought he had injured his ankle. Butler appeared to turn his left ankle when stepping on it Luguentz Dortwith his foot as the Thunder attacker stole the ball from him on the wing. The veteran missed five games with ankle problems this season.
As the Heat called a timeout, Butler headed to the locker room with trainers. Before the start of the second quarter, the team announced that he would not return to the game — but because of illness.
Reports then circulated that Butler had been deal with a stomach problem. That led to questions about whether Butler should have tried to play if he wasn’t feeling well. Yet after the game, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said Butler was in the lineup because he said he could play.
“I don’t have any other thoughts,” Spoelstra told reporters. “If the guys say they can go, we’re going now.”
Butler finished with no points and two assists, one game after notching a triple-double in a defeat of 125 to 124 At Detroit Pistons Monday with 35 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals.
Despite Butler’s absence, the Heat fought hard against the Thunder behind Tyler Herro‘s 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Bam Adebayo added 17 points and 10 rebounds, while requiring seven stitches above his eye after taking a hit to the face in the third quarter.
"The next man up," Adebayo said of Butler’s exit. “We monitored him at halftime, but we have to understand that issue. You can’t stress who’s in, who’s out. It’s about going out there and trying to get the W.”
Butler was the subject of commercial rumorsseeking a long-term contract extension that the Heat are not willing to pay. Leaving Friday’s game will fuel speculation that he is ready to leave Miami. Butler did not travel to Orlando for Saturday’s game against the Magic. Still, he could still make the team in time to play, according to reports.
