2 min read • January 04, 2022
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Star Miami Heat wing Jimmy Butler suffered his 2nd right ankle sprain in the last 6 days on Monday night, one that will result in a prolonged absence, according to an initial analysis from our ProBasketballDocs.
By video, Butler suffers an apparent inversion sprain on his right ankle, the 6th-such sprain since January 2020. This incarnation is more serious and will keep him out for several weeks; however, we do expect postgame x-rays to come back negative, meaning it is only a ligament injury.
An associated ankle bone contusion, which is possible in inversion sprains, would lengthen the absence.
Butler endured the non-contact sprain with a little over 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter when his foot stuck to the court while attempting to back down Juan Toscano-Anderson.
He immediately went down grimacing and holding his ankle, and had to be helped off the court, unable to put any weight on the ankle. He did not return to the contest.
Miami, 23-14, is in the 3rd game of a 6-game road trip but will be back in South Beach for 8 of 9 games starting on Jan. 14 versus the Hawks and ending on Jan. 29 against the Raptors.
Entering tonight, Butler is averaging 23.2 points with 5.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2 steals in 22 games. He has missed 15 games with a combination of tailbone and ankle injuries.
Caleb Martin will step in as a key wing for the short-handed Heat, who are also without Bam Adebayo and Markieff Morris for the extended future.
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