Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is fined $25,000 by the NBA for ditching the media

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for not speaking to the media after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Butler was the star of the No. 8 Heat’s incredible postseason run and delivered again on Sunday night as he led Miami to less than a game in the Championship Series. NBA.

Miami beat Boston 128-102 in Game 3 on Sunday but, despite the win, Butler was clearly in no mood to talk to the media.

NBA TV, which televised postgame press conferences, teased that Butler would take the podium during his coverage, but the star forward never appeared.

Gabe Vincent, Bam Adebayo and Caleb Martin instead followed coach Erik Spoelstra and Butler was off the hook with the fine on Tuesday.

The Heat have a shot at winning Tuesday night as they head into Game 4 3-0 against the Celtics.

Butler is averaging 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists in three games against the Celtics. He averaged 22.9, 5.9 and 5.3, respectively during the regular season.

Butler had decided to add insult to injury on Sunday by poking fun at Celtics center Al Horford’s celebration the other night as they dominated Boston.

Butler added insult to injury on Sunday mocked a celebration made by Al Horford in the opener

Horford had a night off – just like the rest of the Celtics with the team losing to Miami by 26

Back in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Horford made a 3-point shot, then turned to Team Miami, took a knee and clasp his hands together to form a “T” as one would on a timeout call.

It came back to bite Horford – because not only did Boston lose Game 1 123-116, but the Miami butler didn’t forget the gesture.

Sunday night in Game 3 at Miami, with the Heat stepping on the necks of the Celtics, Butler replicated Horford’s gesture – staring at him the entire time.

Fan video captured the moment Horford walked past Butler, saw his pose, and began chewing on the All-NBA second team.