The Miami Heat had a tough matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. The game became even more difficult when Jimmy Butler left in the first quarter and the Heat suffered a 104–97 loss.
Jalen Williams scored 33 points, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 25 to lead Oklahoma City to its seventh straight victory. (Tuesday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup Final does not count in the standings.) After playing nine of their last 11 games on the road, Thunder players were ready to go home. But they were still focused on Friday’s game.
When Butler left with 4:41 left in the first frame, most observers thought he had injured his ankle. Butler appeared to twist his left ankle when he stepped on Luguentz Dort’s foot as the Thunder forward stole the ball from him on the wing. The veteran is lost five games with ankle problems this season.
When the Heat called a timeout, Butler walked to the locker room with the trainers. Before the second quarter began, the team announced that it would not return to the game. but due to illness.
Reports then circulated that Butler had been deal with a stomach virus. That led to questions about whether Butler should have tried to play if he wasn’t feeling well. However, after the game, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said Butler was in the lineup because he said he could play.
“I’m not thinking about anything else,” Spoelstra told reporters. “If the guys say they can go, we’ll go right now.”
Butler finished with no points and two assists, one game after posting a triple-double in a 125-124 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday with 35 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals.
Despite Butler’s absence, the Heat fought hard against the Thunder thanks to Tyler Herro’s 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Bam Adebayo added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and needed seven stitches above his eye after taking a hit to the face in the third quarter.
“The next man” Adebayo said of Butler’s departure. “We reviewed it at halftime, but we have to figure this out. You can’t dwell on who’s in and who’s out. It’s about going out and trying to get the win.”
Butler has been the subject of trade rumors, seeking a long-term contract extension that the Heat are not willing to pay. Leaving Friday’s game will fuel speculation that he is ready to leave Miami. Butler did not travel to Orlando for Saturday’s game against the Magic. He could still join the team in time to play, according to reports.