Miami Heat Must Now Play Waiting Game With MRI Results For Jimmy Butler Before Friday's Game Against Chicago Bulls

Shandel Richardson | Apr 18, 2024

Apr 17, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) reacts during loss to Philadelphia 76ers - Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler is known as one of the toughest players in the NBA.

But not even the gritty Butler could avoid the effects of the knee injury he sustained in the first quarter of Wednesday's loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Butler played through it but wasn't his usual self after the early awkward fall.

“It felt like I couldn't do too much, which sucks with the timing of the game and everything,” Butler said. “I hope that I'm fine. I hope that I wake up tomorrow and can still stick-and-move. Right now, I can't stay that's the case.”

Now, the Heat must play the waiting game.

Butler finished with 19 points on 5 of 18 shooting in 40 minutes. He will undergo an MRI Thursday in Miami to determine his playing status for the Friday's elimination game against the Chicago Bulls. A report by Shams Charania stated Butler could be facing an MCL issue.

"It really stiffened up on in the second half," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "As the second half went on, it started to limit him a little bit more ... We have no idea. We'll see when we get back to Miami."

After making the NBA Finals last year, the Heat now face the possibility of missing the postseason. Friday will be even tougher if Butler is unavailable.

“We will do this the hard way,” Spoelstra said. “That has to be the path right now. We're going to rest up, treat up, rally around each other up, get ready for Friday. Again, embrace these competitive games. It will be competitive in front of our home fans.”