Jimmy Butler was absent from the Miami Heat’s victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday due to a family concern.
For the same reason, his availability for the Heat’s game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday had been uncertain. However, Miami has received some good news, as the great wing is now available to play, according to the team.
Despite the absence of their skipper, the Heat defeated Atlanta on the road to extend their winning streak to four games. Bam Adebayo led the way for the team, tallying 26 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks. He also received plenty of assistance from his teammates, especially rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., who scored a career-high 20 points.
With the win, Miami appears to have turned things around after opening the 2023-24 season 1-4. The reigning Eastern Conference champions have risen to fourth position in the standings, tied with the Hawks, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, and New York Knicks.
The Heat figure to have a winnable game on their hands, as San Antonio is currently flailing. The Spurs have lost their last four games while allowing their opponents to score an average of 129.5 points per game.
Still, Miami isn’t going to take its next opponent lightly, especially because it has one of the top coaches in the world in Gregg Popovich and rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama.
The Frenchman averages 19.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from outside the arc. It’s worth mentioning that he’s performed better at home than on the road. Given that the game on Sunday will be played at Frost Bank Center, the Heat will need to beef up their defense against Wembanyama and the rest of the Spurs.
Having Butler back will surely enhance the Heat’s chances of winning, especially since the team will be missing one of its leading scorers, Tyler Herro, as well as Caleb Martin.
