Just one day after it was revealed that Philadelphia would be without the league’s MVP, Joel Embiid, Miami also revealed that Jimmy Butler, the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals, would not play on Christmas Day because of a calf injury. Butler will be missing for the third time in a row and for the seventh time in 30 games this season.
Butler leads the team in assists this season with 4.6, averaging 21.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. When Butler plays for the Heat, they are 14-9; when he is not, they are 3-3.
What is known about Butler’s injury and the implications for Miami going forward are outlined below.
MORE: Examining Jimmy Butler’s 2019 decision to sign with the Heat
What injury does Jimmy Butler have?
The diagnosis for Butler’s injury is a strained left calf.
Butler last participated in a game on Monday, December 18, playing 34 minutes in a close defeat to the Timberwolves. Butler missed Miami’s Dec. 20 trip to Orlando due to his inability to practice the following day, the first of three consecutive absences.
WATCH: Watch Jimmy Butler and the Heat on Sling TV for the entire season.
What’s Jimmy Butler’s absence?
Butler is not expected to play for Miami on December 25, but he is supposedly getting close to getting back.
The Heat’s last home game of the year is their Christmas Day matchup with the 76ers. After that, they’ll head west for a five-game tour that includes stops in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco.
Miami’s next five games are as follows:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Dec. 25 | vs. 76ers | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 28 | at Warriors | 10 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Dec. 30 | at Jazz | 5 p.m. | — |
| Jan. 1 | at Clippers | 10:30 p.m. | — |
| Jan. 3 | at Lakers | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
Jimmy Butler stats
- 21.5 points per game
- 5.2 rebounds per game
- 4.6 assists per game
- 1.1 steals per game
- 0.4 blocks per game
- 1.8 turnovers per game
- 46.2 percent field goal shooting
- 37.7 percent 3-point shooting
- 87.9 percent free throw shooting
- GET MORE NEWS HERE