Philadelphia 76ers Vs Miami Heat, NBA Play-In: Jimmy Butler Out Several Weeks With Injury

Jimmy Butler was hurt late in the first quarter when he tried to fake out Philadelphia’s Kelly Oubre Jr. and his knee buckled, causing the six-time All-Star to fall to the court

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Updated on: 18 April 2024 11:44 pm

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts to an injury during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers during the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament at the Wells Fargo Center on April 17, 2024.

The Miami Heat won’t have injured leading scorer Jimmy Butler in the lineup when they host the Chicago Bulls in Friday’s Eastern Conference do-or-die play-in tournament game. (More Basketball News)

Butler will be sidelined for several weeks due to a right MCL injury sustained in Wednesday’s 105-104 road loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, who clinched the No. 7 seed in the East.

Butler was hurt late in the first quarter when he tried to fake out Philadelphia’s Kelly Oubre Jr. and his knee buckled, causing the six-time All-Star to fall to the court.

A hobbled Butler remained in the game and wound up playing 40 minutes. He scored 19 points but shot 5 of 18 from the field.

Jimmy Butler is expected to be out multiple weeks with what is feared to be an MCL injury, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/KiLqY0siWI
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 18, 2024

Butler led Miami in the regular season with 20.8 points, 5.0 assists and 1.32 steals per game while also averaging 5.3 rebounds.

Last season, Butler won the Larry Bird Trophy as the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals as No. 8 seed Miami advanced to the NBA Finals before losing in five games to the Denver Nuggets.

The winner of Friday’s matchup between Miami and Chicago will capture the No. 8 seed in the East and move on to play the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.