The Miami Heat came away with a Game 1 victory over the New York Knicks in their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup, but it didn’t come without a major scare for their star that got them there in the first place.
Jimmy Butler’s 98 points in the last two games of the first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks led the Heat to an upset upset over the best team in the NBA in the regular season.
Butler had 25 points to start this series, but with five minutes left in the game, he collided with Knicks guard Josh Hart on a shot to the basket that resulted in a sprained ankle that left him in a lot of pain.
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Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler celebrates during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks on April 30, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Butler was on the court for a few minutes as head coach Erik Spoelstra and the coaching staff ran over to see what was happening to him. Video replay showed Hart’s foot getting in the way of Butler’s landing on a jump shot, resulting in the somersault.
He confirmed that was the case on the broadcast following the Heat’s 108-101 win.
Butler, however, did not come out of the game. Spoelstra said he wanted to stay despite a noticeable limp after sustaining the injury. He made the two free throws he received in the collision with Hart, but stayed in the corner for the rest of the fourth quarter instead of being his normal, active self.
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Looking ahead to Game 2, Spoelstra couldn’t provide much of an update on his star player.
«I have no idea. You just don’t know with ankle sprains. I don’t even know if we’ll know more by tomorrow. We’ll just have to see. It will be a waiting game,» he said.
Butler also had 11 rebounds to lead the Heat in that category and come out with a double-double. He had four assists and two steals as well.
Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler near the three-point line in the first half against the New York Knicks during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Madison Square Garden on April 30, 2023 in New City York. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Gabe Vincent was a crucial piece on the Heat’s offensive end, making five of his 12 3-point attempts with 20 points. Kyle Lowry also took over down the stretch with Butler injured, using his veteran point guard prowess to eat up the clock and dictate what the Heat wanted to do to close out the game.
Miami will hope Butler can bounce back quickly, but as Spoelstra said, the answer may not come as quickly as they’d like.
They’ll just have to wait and see if Butler can play Game 2 on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler near the three-point line in the first half against the New York Knicks during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Madison Square Garden on April 30, 2023 in New City York. (Elsa/Getty Images)
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Considering that he wanted to stay in this game, Butler clearly doesn’t want to be left out of his team.