2 min read • March 17, 2022
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All-star guard Jimmy Butler was absent at Miami Heat practice Thursday as he rehabs from another right ankle sprain, his 4th this season.
Butler should return with a heavier brace or new tape shortly, our ProBasketballDocs say, but could miss Friday's game against the Thunder, giving him a full 5 days off before Monday's bout with the 76ers as The Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman suggested.
Butler suffered a minor inversion sprain that caused no new ligament damage midway through the 2nd quarter on Tuesday, limping his way through the rest of the quarter before sitting out the 2nd half.
Because Butler's right ankle suffers from chronic looseness, he could be in line for a heavy rehab regime or even surgery in the offseason to tighten his ankle and prevent further sprains and absences.
In the meantime, however, ankle sprains should not spell significant missed time.
Butler has had a hard time staying on the floor this season, missing 22 games this season with a combination of ankle (7 games), big toe (3 of last 7 games), and tailbone (12 of 13 games after Nov. 29) injuries.
The Heat have withstood his inconsistent availability, going 13-9 without Butler because of additions like Caleb Martin, who is tracking to potentially return this Friday.
Martin suffered a hyperextended left knee on March 9 in a loss to the Suns, avoiding a potentially more severe injury.
He has missed the last 3 games, but was not limited at practice Thursday and is listed as questionable against the Thunder.
If Butler and/or Martin sit, Gabe Vincent and Max Strus will step in as they have done countless times this season.
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