Jimmy Butler On Social Media: "Kelly Oubre Jr. We Throwing Hands"

Anthony Pasciolla | Apr 18, 2024

Apr 17, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) reacts; Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Heat were hit with a devastating blow on Thursday, as star Jimmy Butler's MCL injury will keep him sidelined for Friday's win-or-go-home matchup against the Chicago Bulls.

The knee injury occurred late in the first quarter of Wednesday's game, where Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. landed awkwardly on his leg. Butler fought through the pain as best he could, finishing the night with 19 points on 5 of 18 shooting in 40 minutes. However, it's safe to say the six-time All-Star remembered who was involved in the unfortunate play, calling out Oubre on the Heat's injury update post.

"@kellyoubrejr we throwing hands," Butler commented on Instagram.

If the Heat defeat the Bulls on Friday evening, they will face off against Jayson Tatum and the one-seeded Boston Celtics in Round 1 of the NBA playoffs. Their chances of victory shrink even further without Butler, meaning superstar play from co-stars Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro is a must to have any chance of moving on. The Cetlics could cruise through the Eastern Conference with Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo also dealing with injury.

“It felt like I couldn't do too much, which sucks with the timing of the game and everything,” Butler said after Wednesday's loss. “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.”

Unfortunately, the injury was more severe than Butler anticipated, likely leaving him out of the Heat's rotation for a few weeks.

Anthony Pasciolla is a contributing writer to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or followed on Instagram @anthony.pasciolla