Heat’s Jimmy Butler sits out loss to Warriors with illness

MIAMI — Jimmy Butler sat out Miami’s 113-92 loss to Golden State on Tuesday night time, one which got here with the Heat making an attempt to escape the play-in match within the Eastern Conference.

It was the twenty second time in 72 video games this season that Miami performed with out Butler, who missed the workforce’s morning shootaround with a non-COVID illness. He was later listed as questionable, then downgraded to out about two hours earlier than sport time.

“He’s sick,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra stated. “Doesn’t feel well at all today.”

Miami (39-33), which does not play once more till internet hosting Portland on Friday, remained seventh within the Eastern Conference, tied with Philadelphia however one spot over the 76ers due to a head-to-head tiebreaker. The loss additionally left Miami 1½ video games behind Indiana within the race for No. 6 — the final assured playoff spot — within the East.

Butler is Miami’s main scorer at 21.4 factors per sport. The Heat additionally have been with out Tyler Herro, their No. 2 scorer at 20.8 factors per sport. Herro has missed 16 consecutive video games, together with Tuesday, first with a knee subject after which a foot drawback.

Miami additionally was with out Kevin Love for the 14th straight sport whereas he recovers from a sore heel. Duncan Robinson, the workforce’s main 3-point shooter, was out for the fourth straight sport with a again drawback.

For Golden State, ahead Trayce Jackson-Davis was dominated out with proper knee soreness. Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated he was hopeful Jackson-Davis can be obtainable for Wednesday’s sport at Orlando.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.