heat forward Jimmy Butler will miss his third straight game at Indiana on Friday as he continues to recover from a sprained right ankle Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Butler, who suffered the injury in the first quarter of last Friday's loss at Denver, did not practice Thursday.
While the Heat will play without their six-time All-Star, they expect to have another injured player available. Third-year forward Nikola Jovic was limited to just three minutes in Tuesday's overtime loss to Detroit because of a broken nose, but should be ready to play Friday with the help of a protective mask, Winderman writes.
Here are a few more injury tips from the NBA:
- Guard Kyrie Irving was added outsider' Injury report before Thursday's game at Utah, Tweets Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. Irving, who has had an excellent individual start to the season, is listed as questionable with a right shoulder strain. He has yet to miss a game in 2024/25.
- networks Swingman Ben Simmons (tightness in left calf) underwent an MRI on Thursday and the prognosis is positive. According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post (Twitter Left), Simmons' MRI revealed no structural damage and he will be active in Friday's contest against New York. Forward Dorian Finney Smith (Left ankle sprain) is probable for Friday's competition, during mid Nick Claxton is questionable due to lower back strain.
- Raptors forward Scottie Barnes was seen wearing a mask while recovering from one during practice on Thursday broken Orbital bones. However, he has been limited to non-contact work and is expected to be re-evaluated in about a week, as reported by Sportsnet.ca's Michael Grange (via Twitter).
- Kings center Orlando Robinsonwhich was recently deleted For contact work, he was assigned to Sacramento's G-League affiliate in Stockton to do conditioning work. Tweets James Ham from The Kings Beat. Robinson is on the mend after suffering a left MCL sprain during training camp. The third-year big man has yet to make his debut in the 24/25 season.