Getty Image / Tim Nwachukwu
The Miami Heat have been playing playoff spoiler the last few years, making a run all the way to the NBA Finals last year from the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. But, a repeat of that is going to be much harder after Wednesday night.
Not only did the Miami Heat blow a big second-half lead in the 7/8 Eastern Conference Play-in Game, but their star player, Jimmy Butler suffered what could be a serious injury.
On the last possession of the first quarter, Jimmy Butler hurt himself on this play.
Jimmy Butler was shaken up after Kelly Oubre fell on his leg on this play.
He remained in the game. pic.twitter.com/XI882gNt9N
— ESPN (@espn) April 17, 2024
Something happened to that knee. Butler stayed in to shoot the two foul shots. Had he come out of the game and not shot the free throws, he would not have been able to return to the game. And, he ended playing 40 minutes of their 105-104. He wasn’t very effective though, as he was just 5-18 from the floor as the Heat offense sputtered down the stretch.
Miami’s season isn’t over, as they host the 9th-seed Chicago Bulls in the final Play-In game with the right to take on the top-seeded Boston Celtics on the line. But, they may be without Jimmy Butler.