Why Jimmy Butler’s Return Came at the Perfect Time

The Miami Heat forward led the Miami Heat in scoring Monday night after missing 11 of the last 12 games

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler returned from a toe injury in a big way in the Miami Heat’s 96-95 win over the Brooklyn Nets Monday night.

Butler,34, had missed 11 of Miami’s previous 12 contests due to a combination of injuries. He was dealing with a calf injury that forced him to sit out four games. Butler was cleared to play against the  Utah Jazz Dec. 30 but only played 23 minutes in the losing effort after exiting with a toe injury.

Butler returned to the starting lineup Monday after missing an additional seven games. The Heat could only manage 31 first-half points in his first game back. 

Butler led Miami to a 37-point third quarter by scoring 14 points. He then pulled up at the final buzzer with the game tied at 88 but missed. Down by one, Butler nailed two free throws to give the Heat the lead with 11 seconds remaining, which secured the victory. He finished with 31 points. 

Miami had used Jaime Jaquez Jr. to fill in for Butler. Jaquez left Sunday’s matchup with the Charlotte Hornets prematurely due to injury and missed his first game of the season on Monday. Haywood Highsmith or Duncan Robinson would have likely opened the game at small forward for Miami if Butler was unfit to play.

Miami has reached the Eastern Conference Finals in three of its four playoff appearances since Butler joined the team in 2019. That includes two trips to the NBA Finals. The forward has played a large role in the Heat’s playoff success. Butler has scored 24.7 points per game during his Miami career. Most recently, Butler was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP last year and upped his production to 26.9 points a game throughout the Heat’s playoff run.

Miami is a team with deep playoff aspirations. Butler’s return to the lineup gives the Heat a star that can carry the team toward that dream.

Casey Fahrer is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at caseyfahrer716@gmail.com.