Jimmy Butler Injury Update

 

Miami Heat fans watched anxiously as Jimmy Butler had to be helped off the court Monday night while keeping weight off his injured ankle. 

Jimmy Butler was helped off of the court after an apparent right ankle injury.

Hoping for a speedy recovery 🙏 pic.twitter.com/8NcgmqKXdz

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 4, 2022

Butler seemed to slip while trying to plant his right leg on a drive into the paint, leaving him with the turned ankle. A new report today says that the Heat are hopeful that Butler will return from his latest ankle issue "by the end of the week."

The most troubling aspect of the injury is that it's the 3rd time this season that Butler has had a problem with that right ankle. In November, a sprain caused him to miss three games, and then he turned it again only one week ago, on Dec. 28th. 

Butler has also missed time this season with a tailbone injury which has caused him to miss 12 games. All in all, he's been out of the lineup for 15 of Miami's 38 games thus far. About the only thing he hasn't been a victim of (yet) is the health and safety protocols. 

The good news for the Heat is that they've been able to maintain their .600 winning percentage even with Butler out of the lineup (14-9 with him, 9-6 without). 

The 32-year-old is averaging 23.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists this season. 

Photo Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports