Heat's Jimmy Butler sprains right ankle in loss vs. Lakers
Miami Heat fans are crossing their fingers as they await more news on the injured ankle of superstar Jimmy Butler.
The early-season MVP candidate went down after suffering a sprained right ankle in the first half of action during the team's 120-117 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. Butler finished the game with seven points, two steals and one assist in 12 minutes of play.
"We’ll just have to wait and see tomorrow," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said, per The Athletic.
Currently in his third season with Miami, Butler's 23.6 points per game are his highest since he averaged 23.9 points per contest during his final season with the Chicago Bulls in 2016-2017. Butler has also posted 5.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals in 33.0 minutes per game across 11 contests this year.
Butler is shooting 52.7% from the field and 84.9% from the free-throw line. The 32-year-old was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Nov. 1.
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