2 min read • December 27, 2021
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Heat all-star guard Jimmy Butler returned on Sunday after missing 12 out of 13 games with a tailbone contusion.
The 31-year-old scored 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in 35 minutes in a 93-83 win over the Magic, showing good mobility. He came out of the gate hot, notching 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals in the 1st quarter.
Butler initially suffered the injury on Nov. 27, when he landed directly on his tailbone on a failed block attempt after he was up-ended by Alex Caruso. He missed 4 games, and in his return on Dec. 6, he again landed on his coccyx early in the 1st quarter, eventually leaving the contest and sitting out the next 8 games after aggravating the injury.
Last season Stephen Curry suffered a tailbone contusion that kept him out for 6 out of his next 8 games. The injury – which Bob Myers later revealed was a hairline fracture – did not appear to hinder Curry, as he averaged 36.9 points on 49.1% shooting in his final 24 games after enduring the contusion.
The Heat are 21-13, good for 4th in the East, and went 6-2 in the 8 games without both Butler and Bam Adebayo, who is 3 weeks out of the surgery he had to repair a torn UCL in his right wrist. He is expected back in another 3 weeks.
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