Miami Heat

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler just finished a six-game battle against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals with Thursday's 99-90 victory, but the series did nothing to impact his love of former teammate Joel Embiid.

He was asked what his postgame message was to the big man during an ESPN interview and said, "I love him. I'm proud of him. Yes, yes, yes, I still wish I was on his team. I definitely love the Miami Heat, though. I'm glad that I'm here, but I've got so much respect and love for Joel Embiid."

The Butler and Embiid pairing is a tale of what could have been for the 76ers.

Philadelphia acquired Butler in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves early in the 2018-19 campaign and ended up with a 51-31 record as a contender in the Eastern Conference. However, the championship dreams came to a painful end in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals when Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater hit seemingly every part of the rim and dropped.

Just like that it was over, as the 76ers traded Butler to the Heat ahead of the 2019-20 season.

He made the 2020 NBA Finals with Miami inside the Walt Disney World Resort bubble and is once again in position to challenge for a championship as the top seed heads to the conference finals.

Embiid's 76ers face far more questions, but he cannot be blamed for the loss.

The MVP runner-up has played through a torn thumb ligament and orbital fracture these playoffs, was diving on the floor at times in Thursday's loss and did what he could even against a stout Miami defense that swarmed him whenever he touched the ball.

It surely didn't help that 10-time All-Star and supposed No. 2 option James Harden shot just two times during the entire second half of the Game 6 loss and seemed disinterested on the defensive side for extended stretches.

Unfortunately for Embiid, all he can do is watch his former teammate in the Eastern Conference Finals when the Heat take on the Milwaukee Bucks or Boston Celtics.         

Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid is an MVP candidate and a three-time All-Defensive selection, but Jimmy Butler isn't intimidated.

"Joel's a hell of a player," Butler told reporters when asked about getting matched up with him on switches. "That's my guy, too. But I'm not scared of him either. I don't think anybody is. Nobody's scared of nobody in this matchup, so I'll attack him like I'll attack anybody else. I like it, he takes that challenge. He's the MVP, he's their team's best player, that's what he's supposed to do."

While the 76ers evened the series at two games apiece with a 116-108 victory in Sunday's Game 4, Butler looked anything but scared.

He put Miami on his back to the tune of 40 points, six assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks, which is about the only thing that kept it close since the visitors shot just 7-of-35 (20.0 percent) from deep and struggled to contain the 76ers on the other end.

Embiid (24 points and 11 rebounds) impressed with a double-double, but it was James Harden who took over in crunch time with 31 points, nine assists and seven rebounds on 6-of-10 shooting from deep.

Butler may need to take on Embiid more often if the Heat are going to advance.

The Miami Heat will be without a key starter for at least the next five days.

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Sunday that Heat center Bam Adebayo has entered the NBA's health and safety protocols, ruling him out through Friday. Winderman noted that Adebayo could be ready to return in time for the playoffs.

After being drafted 14th overall in 2017, Adebayo has developed into one of the best big men in the league. He scored a team-high 24 points and had the go-ahead dunk to lead the Heat to a comeback win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

In his fifth season, Adebayo is averaging a career-high 19.1 points with 10.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 55.7 percent from the field. But he's been limited to 56 games this year, largely because of surgery on his right thumb in December to repair a torn ligament.

Adebayo's injury-riddled year is just a microcosm of Miami's season. Six of the team's top seven scorers were forced to miss 10 or more games because of injury or illness. Despite this, the Heat have a 53-28 record and locked up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the postseason.

The NBA playoffs begin on April 16 after the completion of the play-in tournament. If Adebayo were forced to miss any games, veteran center Dewayne Dedmon would likely move into the starting lineup. Dedmon has made 15 starts this season and is averaging 6.3 points and 5.8 rebounds.

The Heat will face the Orlando Magic in Sunday's regular-season finale.

It appears Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo was nearly traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 2018. 

Speaking on JJ Redick's The Old Man and the Three podcast, Adebayo said he was almost traded to the Timberwolves in a deal that would have included Jimmy Butler, who was eventually dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers. 

“You heard the Minnesota situation, and it’s crazy,” Adebayo said (via Tribune News Service). “Because I almost got traded for Jimmy, to Minnesota.”

At the time, Adebayo, the 14th overall pick in 2017, was entering his second year in the NBA after an unpromising rookie season that saw him average just 6.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 69 games. 

Miami obviously ended up keeping the Kentucky product, and it's because team president Pat Riley was confident he had something special in him. 

“But I almost got traded for Jimmy,” Adebayo recalled. “Pat wouldn’t trade me. Like he was, ‘Nah, I see something good in this kid.’ Yadda, yadda, yadda. And, at that point, I’m sweating bullets. Like, I’m not trying to be traded. I like it in Miami. It’s warm. I kind of got my feet wet. I’m familiar with the place.”

Keeping Adebayo paid off for the Heat as he has improved in each of his five NBA seasons and has emerged as one of the better bigs in the league. The 24-year-old is currently having a career year, averaging 19.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 55.7 percent from the floor. 

Miami also landed Butler in a sign-and-trade deal with the 76ers in 2019, and he and Adebayo have combined to make the Heat one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The duo led the team to the NBA Finals during the 2019-20 campaign and a playoff appearance last season.

The Heat also clinched the Eastern Conference this year with a 53-28 record entering Sunday's regular-season finale against the Orlando Magic. Butler has played a big role in their success, averaging 21.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 48.0 percent from the floor.

With the emergence of Adebayo, the play of Butler and the addition of Kyle Lowry, the Heat are primed to make a deep run in the postseason. 

The Miami Heat officially clinched the No. 1  seed in the Eastern Conference on Thursday after losses by the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics.

It's the first such finish since 2012-13 for Miami, and it came in a season filled with obstacles.

Six of the the team's top seven scorers missed 10 or more games because of injury or illness. There was also a notable dustup between head coach Erik Spoelstra and star forward Jimmy Butler during a game last month.

Despite the tumult throughout the year, Miami has been one of the NBA's elite teams with a record of 52-28. The Heat have a balanced squad and feature three players who average at least 19 points per game in Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.

Butler earned his sixth All-Star selection this season while averaging 21.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Herro is one of the top candidates for Sixth Man of the Year, scoring 20.8 points per game. Adebayo is one of the best big men in the league and boasts averages of 19.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals per contest.

Miami has also benefited from the presence of veteran point guard Kyle Lowry, who was acquired last offseason in a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors. He leads the Heat with 7.6 assists per game, and his leadership has been a welcome addition.

The supporting cast has also been a key reason for Miami's success. Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, P.J. Tucker and Gabe Vincent all shoot at least 36 percent from three-point range. With veterans such as Victor Oladipo and Dewayne Dedmon, the Heat are a deep team that is poised for playoff success.

If Miami stays healthy, it could be in line for its second run to the NBA Finals in three years.

The Heat will go for their sixth straight win when they return to action Friday against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Miami Heat clinched a playoff spot for the third straight season Wednesday after defeating the Boston Celtics 106-98.

Miami also needed a loss by the Cleveland Cavaliers to earn the berth, and the Cavs fell to the Dallas Mavericks 120-112.

The Heat are heading to the postseason despite six of their top seven scorers missing 10 or more games this year because of injury or illness. Better yet, they appear on track to compete for their second Eastern Conference title in three seasons.

The Heat are 49-28, good enough for first in the East. They have a well-rounded team that features three players averaging at least 19 points per game in Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.

Kyle Lowry has been fantastic since coming over in free agency, pacing the team with 7.5 assists per game. He's the type of pure point guard and floor general the Heat lacked last year, and he's excelled on the defensive end too.

That quartet is surrounded by a host of outside shooters who have made teams pay all year. Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, P.J. Tucker and Gabe Vincent have all made at least 36 percent of their three-pointers.

Dewayne Dedmon has admirably stepped in for Adebayo when needed, and big man Omer Yurtseven has been efficient when called upon as well.

All told, this is a deep, talented roster with no discernible weaknesses that should be a dangerous matchup for anyone it faces this spring.

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Brooklyn Nets with a toe injury, the team announced. P.J. Tucker is also out with a knee injury and Kyle Lowry has been ruled out because of personal reasons. 

Injuries have sidelined Butler several times during the 2021-22 season. He missed three games in mid-November with a right ankle sprain before missing four more contests because of a tailbone contusion. 

Butler returned to the lineup on Dec. 6 but reinjured his tailbone and missed eight more games before returning again on Dec. 26. Shortly after, he suffered another right ankle injury on Jan. 3 and didn't return until Jan. 14. The ankle issue kept him out three games.

The veteran is in his third season with the Heat. Miami has made the playoffs in each of his first two seasons there and is on pace to do so in 2021-22. He has been impressive when healthy, averaging 21.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists while shooting 47 percent from the floor and just 19 percent from deep. 

Miami enters Thursday's game at 41-22 and in first place in the Eastern Conference. Despite Butler being in and out of the lineup, the Heat have excelled behind Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo.

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler praised New York Knicks forward RJ Barrett following his 46-point outburst Friday night.

Butler scored 23 points to help lead the Heat to a 115-110 win, but it was Barrett who stole the show at Madison Square Garden by knocking down 13 of his 22 shots to establish a career-high scoring mark.

"We all know he's capable of that," Butler told reporters. "I don't think anybody is surprised or should be surprised. He's definitely going to be playing in this league for a long time, and he's going to be the face of the Knicks."

Barrett has made steady progress across three NBA seasons, and he's started to look like the potential franchise cornerstone the Knicks we're hoping for when they selected him with the third overall pick in the 2019 draft.

The 21-year-old Duke product has averaged 18.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 threes across 49 appearances this season. His scoring average sits at 29.2 through five February games.

"When you have a night like that, of course you want to have a win, which is the most important thing," Barrett said after the Knicks' loss, which dropped the team's record to 25-35.

New York posted a 41-31 record last season to reach the playoffs, but it's so far fallen short of expectations during the current campaign.

Barrett is a bright spot, however, and opponents are taking notice of his improvement.

"You could see it in the body language, you could see it in his face," Heat center Bam Adebayo said. "He wants to be that guy. You could see he wants to take his team to another level. You could see it in his body language. He's playing free. He's not even thinking about what shots to take, when to take them. He's just going out there and playing basketball."

Unfortunately for the Knicks, his recent hot streak hasn't resulted in an uptick in the team's results, as they've lost all five games he's played this month.

New York sits 12th in the Eastern Conference, 3.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final berth in the play-in tournament, with 22 matchups left in the regular season.

Barrett is going to need some more help if the Knicks are going to make up that deficit to at least give themselves a shot at making the playoff field.

Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo, who has been out since April 8, 2021, after having surgery on his right quadriceps tendon, could return to the lineup in March.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski provided the report on SportsCenter.

"Victor Oladipo is on this road trip. He’s had two really significant quad tendon surgeries. He’s recovered from the second one now. I’m told that there’s optimism Oladipo could be back within two weeks. Perhaps the second week of March."

Oladipo, a former Indiana star, has been in the NBA since 2013. The two-time All-Star has averaged 17.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists for his career.

Oladipo starred for the Indiana Pacers in 2017-18 and 2018-19 and was named an All-Star both years. Unfortunately, Oladipo suffered a quad injury in January 2019 that led to a surgery and an absence off the court until January 2020.

The following year, Indiana traded Oladipo to the Houston Rockets in a four-team deal. Houston then sent Oladipo to Miami last March. He played four games for the Heat in 2020-21, averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 27.8 minutes per matchup.

Oladipo underwent his second surgery on the quad last May. Over the offseason, he agreed to a one-year deal for $2.4 million.

He'll return to a team sitting second in the Eastern Conference with a 38-21 record despite a litany of absences due to injury or the league's health and safety protocols. Of note, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler have missed a combined 57 games.

All three of those players are back, though, and based on Wojnarowski's timeline, Oladipo could return during a stretch from March 5-28 that sees the Heat play 11 of 12 games at home.

Even if he isn't the same player as he once was before his first quad surgery, Oladipo's return would be a huge boost to a team that could hit its stride down the stretch.

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has been fined by the NBA for violating league rules during All-Star Weekend. 

Per the league, Butler was fined $25,000 for violating NBA rules governing media interview access and for his noncompliance with the resulting investigation. 

Butler was in Cleveland last weekend for the All-Star festivities, but he wasn't front and center during any of the events. 

The Heat forward only played nine minutes off the bench for Team LeBron, tied with Fred VanVleet for the second-fewest of any player in the game.

Chris Paul, who has a right thumb avulsion fracture, played two minutes just to get an appearance in his 12th All-Star Game. 

Butler did speak to reporters Saturday during All-Star Weekend.

"I think people know we’re good whether they believe we can win it or not. I don’t think anybody’s skipping Miami on their schedule," Butler said in response to a question about whether the Heat are being overlooked. "I think it’s going to be a dog fight, it’s going to be a good game, whatever game we’re in, but right now, I don’t think we’re overlooked."

He didn't make himself available after the All-Star Game. 

Team LeBron beat Team Durant 163-160 on Sunday. Butler scored two points and had two steals. He played 51 minutes in Miami's 111-107 double-overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets to wrap up the first half on Feb. 17. 

Butler and the Heat will play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.