MIAMI – It’s make or break for the Miami Heat Friday night as they host the Chicago Bulls to see who will earn the NBA’s final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference for the second straight year.
The Heat will be asked to win the pivotal game without their star guard Jimmy Butler after he is expected to miss multiple weeks with an MCL sprain.
Butler’s latest injury only adds to Miami’s major injury issues, with point guard Terry Rozier out with a neck strain and shooting guard Duncan Robinson bothered by a back injury.
Butler was hurt late in the first quarter of that game against the 76ers when he tried to fake out Kelly Oubre Jr. on a bucket. His knee buckled and he fell to the court. Oubre appeared to land on the Heat star, who led the franchise last season to the NBA Finals.
“I fell, he landed and my knee just didn’t do well, I guess,” Butler told reporters Wednesday night. “I don’t know. It’s not a good feeling, I can tell you that.”
On Friday, the Heat will need maximum production from a cast that includes All-Star center Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The team could also see the return of guard Duncan Robinson, who was eligible to play Wednesday but remained on the sidelines.
Miami went 13-9 when Butler was absent during the regular season, but will have a tall task ahead of them, especially on defense.
The Heat score 116.0 points per 100 possessions with Butler on the floor and 108.7 points per 100 possessions without him, according to ESPN.
Adebayo told reporters Saturday that the Heat might have to get out of their comfort zone in the way they defend since they are short-handed.
At Heat shootaround, Bam asked how they guard against getting outside of what they normally do and trying to do too much.
— Clay Ferraro (@ClayWPLG) April 19, 2024
Bam says they may actually NEED to do that with what’s at stake and who is out. pic.twitter.com/gKzRuA6d9f
The winner of Friday’s game will visit the top-seeded Boston Celtics on Sunday.
Boston swept the regular season series (3-0) against Miami and Chicago.
Tip-off for Friday’s game from the Kaseya Center is set for 7 p.m.