Before facing off in the second round of the playoffs, Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid were once teammates. The two were part of the 2019 Philadelphia 76ers team that lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Toronto Raptors. In that short time together, Butler and Embiid built a solid friendship that lasted even after the former left the team.

Want proof of their friendship? Well, just look at Jimmy Butler's comment on his ex-Sixers teammate's post. Due to an orbital fracture, Joel Embiid had to don a mask in Game 3. After a win over Butler's heat, Embiid posted an image of him wearing the mask. Butler would playfully comment on the post, saying: (via Sports Illustrated)

Butler might be a little salty that Masked Embiid made an appearance tonight. The Sixers star had an immediate presence on the court, strengthening their defense. That defensive pressure highly contributed to the 99-79 blowout win by Embiid and the crew. So, yeah, Butler really doesn't like that mask.

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Butler himself that the Sixers star's presence impacted the Heat's game plan for Game 3. However, he also acknowledged that they as a team made several errors throughout the game.

ā€œYou add Jo to any team, home or away, the game, the scouting report, it changes drastically,ā€ Butler said, perĀ Nick Friedell of ESPN. ā€œHeā€™s been like that for his entire career. But thatā€™s not the reason that we lost the game ā€” we didnā€™t get back, turned the ball over ā€¦ but he is a big part of it.ā€

We finally have a series in our hands. With Embiid finally back in full force, how will the Heat adjust? Can the Sixers tie the series up in Game 4?