In Florida they breathe easy. The Miami Heat have ruled out a significant injury to Jimmy Butler’s ankle and hope he can return to the courts later this week, according to information from the Sun-Sentinel.
The forward sprained his ankle during the third quarter of Monday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors, forcing him to withdraw from the game. An ankle that had already been affected coinciding with the match on December 28 against the Washington Wizards.
Physical problems have accompanied Butler throughout the course, forcing him to miss fifteen of the 38 games played by the Heat so far. In the 23 he has been able to play, the four-time All-Star has averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.0 steals in 33.8 minutes.
Despite numerous absences due to injuries and health and safety protocols, the Heat have managed to settle into fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 23-15.
(Cover photo by Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)