Miami Heat

The Miami Heat announced that forward Jimmy Butler suffered a sprained right ankle during a road game Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers and will not return.

Butler entered Wednesday averaging 25.3 points on 53.0 percent shooting, 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.1 steals in his 12th NBA season.

The 32-year-old posted 21.5 points on 49.7 percent shooting, 7.1 assists, 6.9 rebounds and an league-high 2.1 steals last year for the Heat, who went to the 2020 NBA Finals and made a return trip to the postseason in 2021. Miami was swept by the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks in Round 1.

Butler's fantastic two-way game has been a catalyst for the Heat's success, to the point where they went 33-19 with him during the 2020-21 regular season and just 7-13 without him. His 9.3 win shares per game ranked fifth in the NBA, per Basketball-Reference.

Butler missed time in 2020-21 for a few reasons, including 10 matchups because of the league's health and safety protocols, a pair of games because of a knee injury, two more with a sprained ankle, two with a sore ankle, one with a non-COVID-19 illness and two with lower back tightness.

This year's team has largely shined with Butler, as the Heat entered the Lakers game with a 7-3 record.

Butler left after playing all 12 first-quarter minutes, amassing seven points, a pair of steals and an assist.

Without Butler, the Heat will call upon other members of the rotation to fill the star's duties.

That may mean more usage for Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo. It could also mean more court time for players such as Caleb Martin.

Ultimately, losing Butler is a huge blow for the Heat, who could use the five-time All-Star back on the court as soon as possible. Miami's next game is Thursday on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem is ready to move on after the confrontation between teammate Markieff Morris and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic on Monday.

Haslem spoke with reporters at his team's Wednesday shootaround in advance of a road game against the Los Angeles Lakers and praised Jokic as a player and person:

Obviously in a situation like that, alpha males and reactions take over. A couple of days later, we all want what's best for everybody. I don't think Jokic is a bad guy. I actually love him as a basketball player and I love him as a person. I think he's a really good guy. I think emotions just got the best of everybody.

Looking at it a day or two later, I wish it wouldn't have gone down the way it went down. But I don't think he's a bad guy, nor do I think he's a dirty player. I'm also a guy who has definitely let emotions get the best of me sometimes. But I never hit nobody in the back, and I think that's where it got a little murky. But I don't think he's a bad guy, and I don't think he meant to hurt anybody. We don't hold grudges, so it's time to move on.

Morris committed a hard foul on Jokic in the Heat's 113-96 loss to Denver at Ball Arena. Jokic retaliated by hitting Morris with his back turned:

Morris suffered whiplash and will not play in the Lakers game. Jokic has been suspended for one game, and he'll serve that Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers.

Tensions were high immediately following Jokic's hit on Morris, with Jimmy Butler particularly animated as he pointed toward the Denver bench.

Butler and other Heat teammates were waiting outside the locker room postgame as well:

Per an NBA press release, Butler was fined $30,000 for attempting to escalate the altercation and failing to comply with an NBA security interview as part of the league's investigation into the matter.

Morris was fined $50,000 for committing the initial flagrant-2 foul.

Regarding Morris' health, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra told this to reporters: "He's getting better, that's the only update."

The 7-3 Heat are continuing their five-game Western Conference road trip with a matchup against the Lakers on Wednesday before finishing off with the stretch against the L.A. Clippers, Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has been disciplined by the league for his actions against Markieff Morris in Monday's game against the Miami Heat.

Per the NBA announcement, Jokic was suspended for one game, while Morris was fined $50,000 for a flagrant-2 foul prior to Jokic's retaliation. Jimmy Butler was also fined $30,000 for attempting to escalate the altercation.

The run-in between Jokic and Morris occurred in the fourth quarter of Denver's 113-96 win.

Morris initiated contact by throwing his shoulder into Jokic, who responded by barreling his shoulder into the Heat power forward's back.

Play was stopped for a few minutes as players from both teams got involved in the skirmish. The Heat medical staff brought out a stretcher when it looked like Morris was seriously injured, but he was able to walk off the floor under his own power.

The officials assessed Morris with a flagrant-2 foul, and Jokic received an unsportsmanlike conduct foul. They were both ejected from the game.

"It's a stupid play, I feel bad," Jokic told reporters after the game. "I'm not supposed to react that way. I got hit. I saw him, but I thought it was just gonna be like a take foul. But he bumped me and I was like, I think it was a dirty play and I just needed to protect myself."

The Heat announced Morris suffered an apparent neck injury as a result of the contact.

This marks only the second time in seven seasons that Jokic has been suspended by the NBA. The first came in January 2019 when he sat one game for leaving the bench during an altercation in a game between the Nuggets and Utah Jazz.

Jokic's suspension will also end his streak of consecutive regular-season games played at 157. The last time he didn't play was on April 7, 2019, against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Nuggets are off to a 6-4 start this season. They have alternated streaks of two consecutive wins and two consecutive losses through their first 10 games.

Miami Heat forward Markieff Morris will miss his team's road game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday because of whiplash, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

Morris left the Heat's 113-96 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday after a hard foul from reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic:

Morris initially committed a hard foul on Jokic, who responded with one of his own. A stretcher came out for Morris, but he walked off on his own power with teammates by his sides. Both players were ejected.

Morris signed with the Heat in August to mark his fifth team since February 2019 and the sixth of his career. He averaged 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists across his first 10 NBA seasons, and he's recorded 7.7 points and 2.8 rebounds so far during the 2021-22 campaign.

On the injury front, the 32-year-old former Phoenix Suns, Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers role player has dealt with a wide variety of mostly minor ailments over the past few years.

KZ Okpala and Caleb Martin are among the Miami reserve forwards who could see an uptick in playing time behind starter P.J. Tucker while Morris is unavailable.

The Heat have built a roster deep on talent, which helps the squad overcome any short-term injuries, but they'll hope Morris is healthy when the playoffs roll around since he can provide a two-way impact off the bench.

Miami Heat forward Markieff Morris admitted he committed a hard foul on Nikola Jokic during Monday's game but suggested he would "never hit a man with his back turned" like the Denver Nuggets big man did to him.

Jokic was ejected for blindsiding Morris with a hit late in the fourth quarter of Denver's 113-96 win:

Morris was also given a flagrant-2 foul and ejected for elbowing Jokic prior to the incident. Heat teammate Jimmy Butler was assessed a technical foul in the aftermath and was not pleased with the reigning MVP for dishing out such a hit.

Jokic posted a triple-double of 25 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.

Denver (6-4) and Miami (7-3) play again Nov. 29 in Florida, and Monday's incident will serve as the backdrop for what could be a physical and contentious rematch.         

The feud between Nikola Jokic and Markieff Morris has escalated quickly in the wake of Monday's incident involving both players late in the Denver Nuggets' 113-96 win over the Miami Heat. 

Jokic and Morris were ejected in the fourth quarter following an on-court incident that resulted in a minor skirmish on the floor:

That prompted a response from Morris' brother, Marcus Morris Sr., on Twitter:

Jokic's two brothers apparently saw Marcus' tweet, because they singled him out in a message that was verified by Mike Singer of the Denver Post:

Morris responded Tuesday afternoon:

The officials and coaches for both teams did a good job of containing the situation in the moment. Miami's medical staff came out with a stretcher for Morris, but he was able to walk off the court under his own power. 

Jokic was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct foul, and Morris received a flagrant-2 foul.  Both were ejected from the contest. Jimmy Butler also received a technical foul for yelling and gesturing at Nuggets players to come at him. 

Speaking to reporters after the game, Jokic called it "a stupid play" and he's "not supposed to react that way."

Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. took note of how the Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic went after his twin brother, Markieff Morris of the Miami Heat, during Monday night's game.

After Morris' tweet, Jokic's two brothers responded, saying they'd be "waiting" for Marcus Morris if he wanted "to make a step further."

A few hours later, Marcus Morris responded:

Markieff Morris started the sequence with a hard foul Jokic to stop a fast break by the Nuggets late in the fourth quarter of an eventual 113-96 win by Denver, and the reigning NBA MVP responded by delivering a shoulder barge into the back of Morris after he'd turned around to walk away.

The Heat forward laid on the court for a while, but he was eventually able to leave under his own power. Head coach Erik Spoelstra, who called it a "very dangerous and dirty play," said Morris was moving around well in the locker room after the contest.

"This whole thing could have been a whole lot uglier if Markieff was actually facing Jokic," Spoelstra told reporters. "The fact that he had his back turned and he made a play like that, blindsiding him, just a very dangerous play."

Jokic sounded a remorseful tone after getting a chance to watch the replay of his hit on Morris.

"It's a stupid play," Jokic said. "I feel bad. I am not supposed to react that way. ... I thought it was going to be a take foul. ... I think it was a dirty play. And I just needed to protect myself. I felt bad. I am not supposed to react that way, but I need to protect myself."

He added: "I don't know who showed me the clip, and actually his head snapped back [after the shove], so I feel really bad. ... It's a bad move."

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said he'll wait to hear from the league office to see whether Jokic, who was ejected from the game, faces any additional punishment.

"I will concern myself when they tell us he's suspended," Malone said. "I am not going to waste any of my time looking into my crystal ball and my tea leaves. I don't have any of that. He's available until they tell me he's not. And I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be available Wednesday night."

Denver's next game is Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers. It faces the Heat again Nov. 29 in Miami and takes on the Clippers and the other Morris twin for the first time this season Dec. 26 in L.A.

Meanwhile, Miami continues its five-game road trip Wednesday night when it visits the Los Angeles Lakers.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic regrets his push of Markieff Morris that led to his ejection during the fourth quarter of Monday's 113-96 win over the Miami Heat.

After absorbing a hard foul from Morris, Jokic pushed him down from behind. Morris stayed down on the floor for an extended period of time before walking off under his own power:

Jokic called it a "stupid play" on his part while addressing the media after the game:

Jokic added: "I don't know who showed me the clip, but [Morris'] head snapped back. I felt really bad."

While the Nuggets were without Jokic for the final couple of minutes Monday, he had made a massive mark on the game.

The reigning NBA MVP recorded a triple-double with 25 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. He added two steals and two blocks in a brilliant all-around performance.

Meanwhile, Morris contributed 10 points and three rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench for a Heat team that turned in one of its worst performances of the young season.

Miami entered play Monday a half-game behind the Philadelphia 76ers for first place in the Eastern Conference, and with both teams losing, that remains the case.

At 7-3, the Heat are tied with the surprising Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards for second place in the East.

Denver was off to an uneven 5-4 start prior to Monday's game, but it improved to 6-4 with the convincing win and is tied with the Memphis Grizzlies for fifth in the Western Conference.

The NBA has yet to announce whether Jokic will receive punishment for pushing Morris aside from the ejection.

Erik Spoelstra was not happy with Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic after Monday's game.

Jokic knocked Markieff Morris to the ground with a blindside hit during the fourth quarter of Denver's 113-96 victory over the Miami Heat. The Heat coach called it "a very dangerous and dirty play" and said the fact Morris had his back turned to Jokic made it even more troubling.

"He's moving around in the locker room right now," Spoelstra told reporters when discussing Morris' status. "We'll do the necessary tests and do what we need to do to make sure he's OK."

Jimmy Butler was not happy with the reigning MVP after the play:

On the court, Jokic impressed with a triple-double of 25 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists while all five Nuggets starters scored in double figures. Will Barton also poured in 25 points, and Miami's inability to get key defensive stops turned the game into a runaway.

It was not for a lack of effort on Butler's part, as the Heat star finished with 31 points, eight assists and five rebounds as the only player on his team with more than 13 points for the game.

Yet the incident near the end of the contest when the outcome was no longer in doubt overshadowed anything that happened during the game.

Jokic was ejected and could face a fine or perhaps even a suspension from the league, and Morris' status will be something for Miami to monitor before it faces the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

Butler was given a technical foul, and Morris, who elbowed Jokic prior to the blindside hit, was given a flagrant foul and ejected.

The two teams play again on Nov. 29.             

The end of Monday's Miami Heat vs. Denver Nuggets game was mired by a confrontation between Heat forward Markieff Morris and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

After Morris bumped him near midcourt, Jokic retaliated with a cheap shot by elbowing him hard in the back. The incident caused a skirmish between the two teams, and officials ejected both players for their actions.

Heat star Jimmy Butler was particularly fired up, jawing at the Denver players and staff members long after the play.

Morris was down for a while, and a stretcher was brought out before he walked off the floor under his own power.

The Heat announced that Morris suffered a neck injury and, his status will be updated as they continue to evaluate him. Miami lost the road game 113-96, and the coaches and players left the floor without interacting.

"Just wanted to make sure that 'Kieff was and is OK," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after the game, adding that Morris is set to undergo further tests. "We'll find out more. He's moving around right now in the locker room, but that was a very dangerous, dirty play."

Spoelstra explained that he thought Morris was attempting to take a foul to stop Denver's fast break. He acknowledged that Morris led with his shoulder instead of slapping at the ball, but he believes there was no malicious intent. Spoelstra added that the situation could've gone worse.

"That's just absolutely uncalled for, and it would've looked a lot different. This whole thing could've been a whole lot uglier if Markieff was actually facing Jokic," Spoelstra said. "The fact that he had his back turned, and he made a play like that, blindsiding him, that was just a very dangerous play."

Prior to his ejection, Jokic recorded his first triple-double of the season with 25 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Denver improved to 6-4 with the win and Miami fell to 7-3.

The Nuggets and Heat will face off again later this month in Miami on Monday, Nov. 29.