Jimmy Butler’s injury status and update ahead of the Miami Heat-Lakers showdown

Jimmy Butler’s injury status and update ahead of the Miami Heat-Lakers showdown

Updated at 6:57 p.m. ET

The Miami Heat (9-10) have suffered two straight losses and are heading into a tough three-game slate that begins Wednesday night against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers and ends with back-to-back home games against the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers on Weekend.

But will there be Jimmy Butler, who missed Monday’s loss to the Boston Celtics, to face LeBron James? And who will the Lakers be missing? We also already know of a star player who will be sidelined at the weekend. Let’s take a look at the latest injury updates.

The Heat missed Jimmy Butler in Monday’s loss in Boston, which marked the opener against four straight opponents. Even though the Lakers have struggled, the Heat need Butler to get a win.

Butler is available after initially being listed as questionable due to right knee soreness. Butler suffered the injury when he went down awkwardly on Sunday in Toronto and was unable to finish the game in a narrow loss. He was questionable for Monday’s game in Boston before ultimately being ruled out, and Butler was rolling around at the Kaseya Center on Tuesday as he prepared for a possible return. Another update will be provided closer to tipoff on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, Kevin Love is available after missing last game with back spasms. He should return to his spot in the rotation as the primary replacement for Bam Adebayo.

Nikola Jovic was available again despite a sprained left ankle. Jovic has not played in the last five games. Two due to injury and three due to coach Erik Spoelstra’s decision.

Josh Richardson was downgraded to questionable due to right heel soreness. Since he was previously listed on the injury report with an illness, the heel problem is new.

First, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are ready to go. Davis is listed as probable with a left foot injury and is expected to play.

The Lakers will be without Austin Reaves, who was demoted due to a left pelvic contusion. Rotation bigs Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood and Jarred Vanderbilt remain out due to their respective injuries.

According to ESPN, Suns star Kevin Durant will be re-evaluated in a week after twisting his ankle in the second quarter of Tuesday’s win over the San Antonio Spurs. That means he is out for Phoenix’s next three games, including Saturday’s tipoff against the Heat.

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