The Miami Heat are hoping to have All-Star Jimmy Butler back on the court when they play the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
However, it’s unclear how long Butler will be available.
Butler has missed the last five games due to a flu-like illness. During this time, there have been reports that Butler wants a trade as part of ongoing contract talks. He was not very clear about his feelings when he spoke after returning to practice on Tuesday.
“Right now, I’m here and I’m going to make the most of it,” Butler said. “I am going to compete and I’m going to win. It’s a lot of talk, a lot of noise, which I’m cool with. It doesn’t bother me at all. I love that. I thrive with it. It keeps you all wondering, the world wondering. It’s good to be talked about. Even better to be wanted.”
Butler’s situation is not the only possible distraction. The Heat’s last game, a 104-100 win against Houston on Sunday, ended with a late-game altercation.
“It’s a shame that that’ll be the discussion of this game because really it was more about the competitive character and that toughness that our guys brought,” coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Tyler Herro made a clutch jumper to give Miami a one-point lead with 1:56 left, and Nikola Jovic extended the lead with a 3-pointer 47.4 seconds later.
In the closing moments, Herro had words with Rockets forward Amen Thompson, who grabbed Herro’s jersey and threw him down. Players and coaches from both teams rushed in, causing a brief scuffle.
Herro and teammate Terry Rozier were ejected, along with four Rockets players. On Tuesday, the NBA announced Rozier would serve a one-game suspension against New Orleans, and Herro was fined $25,000.
The Pelicans had a chance to win their most recent game but lost their 10th straight, 116-113, against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
New Orleans had a 14-point lead at one point and kept battling in the fourth quarter. But James Harden hit two free throws with 17.9 seconds left to break a tie, and rookie Yves Missi missed a free throw with 4.3 seconds left, preventing a chance to tie the game.
“We have to be more consistent,” guard Dejounte Murray said. “It is tough, but we are trying to figure it out. I can say nobody in that locker room is showing up with the mindset of ‘We are going to lose, do not want to be here or do not want to play.’”
CJ McCollum led New Orleans with 33 points, including a season-high eight 3-pointers, and the Pelicans made a season-high 18 three-pointers. McCollum said it takes time for him and Murray, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Atlanta, to build chemistry, as they’ve only played 15 games together because of injuries.
“I am finally at a spot where I feel like myself,” McCollum said. “Obviously when losing games, you want to help any way you can, but you feel like you are coming up short. … We are heading in a good direction. It’s just unfortunate that we dug such a horrible hole.”
