The Philadelphia 76ers host the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday and Sixers All-Star small forward Jimmy Butler is questionable to play.
Butler is dealing with an upper respiratory infection. The four-time All-Star didn't play on Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns.
Jimmy Butler (illness) questionable vs. DAL https://t.co/4SGeDGmrAN
— NBC Sports EDGE Basketball (@NBCSEdgeBK) January 4, 2019
Butler has appeared in 21 games with the Sixers. The 29-year-old swingman and is averaging 18.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from beyond the arc and 88.2 percent from the free-throw line.
The Sixers defeated the Suns on Wednesday without Butler, who played 29 minutes on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers and finished with 16 points while shooting 5-of-13 from the floor.
Second-year shooting guard Furkan Korkmaz replaced Butler in the starting lineup on Wednesday, scoring 10 points in 29 minutes. Korkmaz will likely start for Butler on Saturday against the Mavs if Butler is unable to play.
Butler's name came up in another negative rumor on Friday, as he reportedly challenged head coach Brett Brown about how he's using him in the Sixers' offense. Butler is widely expected to decline his 2019-20 player option with Philly so he can enter the open market and get more money.
Butler was reportedly dealing with the infection during the Clippers games as well and his symptoms continued to get worse when the team landed in Phoenix.
Follow Us
Subscribe