Knicks-Heat: Both Sides Expect to See Jimmy Butler in Game 3

Jimmy Butler did not play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals but members of both the New York Knicks and Miami Heat expect to see him in Game 3.

Injured Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has taken his talents to South Beach ... and Milwaukee and Manhattan ... during these NBA Playoffs. Many believe he's ready to bring them back.

While no official designation has been revealed, those closest to the action ... namely members of the Heat and their New York Knick adversaries ... believe that Butler will be ready to return to their Eastern Conference Semifinal series that continues with its third game at Kaseya Center on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC). 

"I got a lot of respect for Jimmy," Knicks All-Star Julius Randle, having returned from an injury himself, said during the Game 3 prep, per Nick Friedell of ESPN. "You know what type of player he is, but mentally you know he's going to be locked in and engaged regardless of how he feels and he'll be great. We just want to make it as hard as we can for him and just limit our mistakes on our end."

"I would say we have to, especially with him, have an even bigger focus on not allowing him to just get easy baskets … keep him off the offensive glass” Josh Hart added, per Peter Botte of the New York Post. “Obviously, without Jimmy, we knew they were going to play more shooters and look to get up more threes. He’s a winning player. He’s one of those guys that just has that warrior mentality, trying to will his team to win. When he’s out there, neutralize that as best we can.”

Miami was more cautious for obvious reasons, but a report from Reuters mentioned that Kyle Lowry was "optimistic" that Butler would take the floor on Saturday afternoon. 

Butler did not play in Tuesday's Game 2, which saw the Knicks equalize the series to the tune of a 111-105 victory at Madison Square Garden. An ankle injury sustained in the triumphant Game 1 when he rolled on the foot of defender Josh Hart, forced him to spectator status.

Miami is seeking its third Eastern Conference Finals appearance since Butler joined the team in July 2019. The 33-year-old has undoubtedly been one of the most impactful stars of the NBA postseason, notably capping off the eighth-seeded Heat's upset win over Milwaukee with a 56-point showing in the Game 4 victory and a 42-point tally that included the overtime-enforcing double in the clincher. 

Butler's dominant streak continued in the conference semifinals against the Knicks as he put in a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double before the encounter with Hart rendered him most immobile for the final five minutes. Some saw the fact that the Heat were able to keep pace with the Knicks despite Butler's absence as a sign they were ready to take control of the series as it prepares to head to Miami.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is well aware of what Butler's capable of, having overseen his trials in Chicago and Minnesota. He felt it was good to get a glimpse of a Miami group armed both with and without Butler's services as they try to break through to their first conference finals appearance since 2000. 

"We know (the) style of play, what he brings, how they’ll be different when he plays. We also know how they’ll play when he doesn’t play," Thibodeau said in The Post's report. “You prepare for whatever the strengths of the club are, whether that means that it’s added three-point shooting or if it means more zone or whatever it might mean."

"You just have to go in with your plan, but the things that you need to do to win are always the same in terms of defense, rebounding, and keeping your turnovers down.”

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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