Miami Heat guard Jimmy Butler will make his return to the rotation on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves after missing the last two games due to personal reasons, the team announced.
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Tuesday the Heat expected Butler back, and he will indeed return to the floor against one of his former teams. The Heat split a back-to-back with the Cleveland Cavaliers in Butler's absence.
Butler previously missed a pair of games prior to the All-Star break due to a shoulder injury, with the Heat losing each of those contests. They are 5-5 without Butler in the rotation this season.
The Heat are in desperate need of a spark in the final third of the season. Miami is just 2-6 in its last eight games, including losses to Eastern Conference bottom-dwellers like the Cavs and Atlanta Hawks. Perhaps a rejuvenated Butler can provide that lift.
Butler has been superb in his first year in South Beach. He is averaging 20.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.8 steals through his first 47 games.
While Butler has been woefully inefficient from beyond the arc (shooting below 25 percent), he has been aggressive in attacking the rim and getting to the free-throw line. Butler is averaging 9.1 attempts per game from the charity stripe.
The five-time All-Star returns at an absolutely critical juncture. The Heat are clinging to the fourth seed in the East. They are just a half-game up on the Philadelphia 76ers, with the sixth-seeded Indiana Pacers just 2.5 games back.
Miami might be hard-pressed to climb into the top three, but Jimmy Butler and company could assure themselves home-court advantage in the first round with a strong finish to the campaign.
The Heat will look to build momentum with a win over the Timberwolves.
Follow Us
Subscribe