With Jimmy Butler sidelined, the Heat were forced to use their 4th starting lineup in 7 playoff games.
NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Butler was sidelined for the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night because of a sprained right ankle.
The Knicks overcame a six-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Heat 111-105 to even the series.
Butler is averaging 35.5 points in the postseason, finishing off the top-seeded Bucks in the first round with 56 and 42 points in the last two games. He had 25 points and 11 points in the opener of this series and almost watched his teammates pull this one out without him.
“Obviously we feel a certain way right now that we weren’t able to find a way to get this win, but we’ll get over it and we’ll get ready for Saturday,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Butler was hurt after being fouled with 5:05 to play Sunday in the Heat’s 108-101 victory. He was able to stay in the game, finishing with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Butler is the leading scorer in the playoffs thus far, averaging 35.5 points per game.
