Miami Heat Survive the Timberwolves Behind Nikola Jovic’s Heroics

Tyler Herro led the Heat in scoring with 26 points. Herro went 9-for-16 from the field and 4-for-8 from the 3-point line. All-Star center Bam Adebayo didn’t have the best efficiency on the floor and only had nine points. Adebayo shot 27.3% from the field. However, he contributed in other areas with seven rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. Jimmy Butler was out as he dealt with a sprained right ankle.

Spoelstra couldn’t give an ideal timetable concerning Butler’s return to the floor. Before the game, the coach spoke about the All-Star’s status.

“Right now, he’s just focused on treatment and doing whatever he has to do to get back out there,” Spoelstra said. “We don’t have a timeline right now, but he’s with us.”

Positively, Kevin Love, a seasoned striker, made his season debut against the Wolves. Love missed the first eight games of the season due to personal reasons. In his first game back, the 2016 champion struggled offensively and only had six points on 2-for-7 shooting from the field.

On Tuesday, the Heat will play against the Detroit Pistons for the Emirates NBA Cup.

Western Conference team could be the frontrunner for Miami Heat’s star player

Butler’s future with the Miami Heat remains uncertain as he’s reportedly not interested in signing a contract extension with the organization. The All-Star forward is in the second year of this three-year, $146 million deal. Throughout all this, one team in the Western Conference has been linked to the forward for a potential trade.

According to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, the Golden State Warriors could acquire the Heat star. Buckley wrote on Thursday about the potential trade between the two franchises that involved Butler.

“Butler, a six-time All-Star who [has] delivered some of the strongest postseason performances in recent memory, would finally (and definitively) put an end to Golden State’s second-star search,” Buckley speculated. “The Warriors may not have much of a runway with both Curry and Butler being on the wrong side of 35, but their on-court fit could be seamless — and spectacular.”

Butler has averaged 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists so far this season.