Jimmy Butler’s Status in Doubt After Knee Injury Limited Him in Play-in Loss to 76ers

Madison Williams | Apr 17, 2024

Apr 17, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) lines up a shot vs. the Philadelphia 76ers. / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler potentially suffered a significant knee injury during the team's 105–104 play-in tournament loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that sources close to the situation fear that Butler suffered an MCL injury, which would sideline him for a while. He is expected to undergo an MRI on Thursday in Miami to learn the extent of his injury.

Butler went to the ground in the first half of the postseason game after attempting a layup. It took him a while to get up, but he didn't miss any significant game time. However, he was seen limping out of the Wells Fargo Center following his media availability.

Jimmy Butler is feared to have an MCL injury in his knee, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/qhpy49NHix

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 18, 2024

"It had me feeling that I couldn’t do too much," Butler said of the injury after the game, via Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra reiterated uncertainty about the severity of Butler's injury in his postgame press conference.

"It really stiffened up on him in the second half, it started to limit him a little more, just the movement, but we'll see,” he said. “We have no idea right now, we'll see when we get back to Miami."

"It really stiffened up on him in the second half... it started to limit him a little more. We have no idea right now, we'll see when we get back to Miami."

Heat HC Erik Spoelstra on Jimmy Butler's knee injury pic.twitter.com/Mv1jYcsUhK

— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 18, 2024

Butler finished the game with 19 points, five assists, five steals and four rebounds.

The Heat will face the winner of Wednesday night's game between the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, April 19 in Miami. The winner of that game will officially make the NBA playoffs to play against the No. 1-seeded Boston Celtics.