Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler intends to play in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics despite his knee injury, according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.
Butler left Game 3 in the 3rd quarter with inflammation in his right knee and returned. He finished with 8 points, 3 rebounds and two assists, and Miami won 109-103.
Butler suffered injuries in the 2021-22 crusade and also missed the fifth game of the team’s first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks with knee inflammation in the same knee. In addition, he missed 25 games of the normal season due to an ankle, tailbone, toe and shoulder pain.
Any injury to Butler is worrisome, especially since he has been the team’s player. He averaged 21. 4 points, 5. 9 rebounds and 5. 5 assists in 57 regular season games.
The 32-year-old is even older in the playoffs, averaging 28. 1 points, 7. 2 rebounds, 4. 9 assists and 2. 2 steals in thirteen postseason games.
When Butler runs out of time, the Heat can be expected to rely more on bench players Tyler Herro, Victor Oladipo and Gabe Vincent. Fortunately for Miami, it looks like Butler will try his luck in game four.
The Heat have a 2-1 lead in the series. The game is scheduled for Monday night at TD Garden.
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