The Miami Heat had a tough game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. The game became even tougher when Jimmy Butler left in the first quarter and the Heat suffered a 104–97 defeat.
Jalen Williams scored 33 points, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 25 to lead Oklahoma City to its seventh straight win. (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, the 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 as he stepped on Luguentz Dort’s foot as the Thunder forward stole the ball from him on the wing. The veteran missed five games with ankle problems this season.
As the Heat called a timeout, Butler walked to the locker room with trainers. Before the second quarter started, the team announced that he would not return to the game, but due to illness.
Reports then circulated that Butler was dealing with a stomach flu. That led to questions about whether or not Butler should have tried to play if he wasn’t feeling well. But after the game, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said Butler was in the lineup because he said he could play.
“I have no other thought,” Spoelstra told reporters. “If the boys say they can go, we’ll go right now.”
Butler finished with no points and two assists, one game after notching 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 behind Tyler Herro’s 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Bam Adebayo added 17 points and 10 rebounds while requiring seven stitches above his eye after taking a punch to the face in the third quarter.
“Next man,” Adebayo said of Butler’s departure. “We checked on him at half-time but we need to sort this out. You can’t keep harping on who’s in, who’s out. It’s about going out there and trying to get the W.”
Butler has been the subject of trade rumors, seeking a long-term contract extension that the Heat are unwilling 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. However, according to reports, he was still able to join the team in time to play.
