The Christmas Day showdown between the Warmth and Sixers misplaced some extra star energy as Miami introduced that Jimmy Butler will sit out as a result of a strained left calf, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. This would be the third straight recreation that Butler has missed due to the calf challenge. Haywood Highsmith (sickness) and Josh Richardson (low again discomfort) additionally received’t play.
Philadelphia revealed on Sunday that reigning MVP Joel Embiid will probably be unavailable due to an ankle harm he suffered in Friday’s recreation. Embiid didn’t make the journey to Miami, and his standing for Wednesday’s contest at Orlando hasn’t been decided. The Sixers are additionally with out Nicolas Batum due to a strained proper hamstring.
Butler has performed in 23 of 29 video games for the injury-riddled Warmth, who rank among the league leaders in video games missed because of accidents and sickness. He’s averaging 21.5 factors, 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per night time whereas capturing 46.2% from the sphere and 37.7% from three-point vary.
Miami is 3-3 with out him within the lineup, notes Winderman, who factors out that Butler has missed no less than 18 video games in every of his first 4 seasons with the Warmth.
Winderman additionally stories that guard Dru Smith, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in a Nov. 22 recreation at Cleveland, is scheduled to endure surgical procedure on Friday. Smith’s harm led to quite a few security complaints a few courtside drop-off at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.