Jimmy Butler is back with the Miami Heat, playing his second game since his suspension ended.
The Miami Heat welcomed Jimmy Butler back to the team against the Nuggets over the weekend, seeing him score 18 points in a loss, following his team-imposed suspension.
Butler made cryptic comments about his feelings, while also issuing a ‘no comment’ when asked if his joy had returned to basketball.
The Heat followed up their loss against the Nuggets with a 128-107 win against the San Antonio Spurs, with Butler in the starting line-up for a second successive game.
The Spurs took an early lead before the Heat came back and squashed them – but Butler had a peripheral role.
Here is a look at how Jimmy Butler’s night went down…
| Jimmy Butler / scoring breakdown | Quarter points | Team score |
| First quarter | 6-1-0 | Heat 20-30 Spurs |
| Second quarter | 0-1-0 | Heat 26-11 Spurs |
| Third quarter | 2-2-7 | Heat 46-27 Spurs |
| Fourth quarter | 0-0-0 | Heat 36-39 Spurs |
| Total | 8-4-7 | Heat 128-107 Spurs |
Jimmy Butler’s teammate Tyler Herro had a slow start, scoring only two points in the first quarter, he recovered to score 18. Kel’el Ware added 25 and Duncan Robinson had 21, and Terry Rozier 20.
Butler began well enough, scoring six points in the opening minutes, but did not add to it until midway through the third quarter, and he ended with eight. He was the seventh highest scorer on the night.
Watching fans were unimpressed with Butler’s contribution, knowing what he can be, and what he delivered, amid his express desire to be traded away.
One wrote: “I don’t understand how Jimmy Butler is even playing in these games I would’ve sent him home so quick.”
Another added: “Jimmy Butler may LOOK like he’s trying. But I’ve watched the man hoop for a long time now. He is absolutely NOT trying.”
A third wrote: “Two things can be true: I can love my team (i.e. the Miami Heat) and want their star player (i.e. Jimmy Butler) to be traded asap.”
“Jimmy ‘Buckets’ Butler needs to retire”, one unhappy fan wrote.
While another who had him on a scoring parlay wrote: “I’m never putting Jimmy Butler on my slips again! Dude did everything possible to not shoot the ball!”
Another pointed to the team’s performance being at odds with Butler’s own feelings: “If Jimmy Butler has no joy right now playing with this Heat team then that’s his own problem cuz they look like they’re having fun out there.”
This was overall a good night for the Heat, with a stunning 46-point third quarter just as impressive as limiting Victor Wembanyama’s impact.
Yet there was little to shout about regarding Jimmy Butler, who was out there for 28 minutes – just not as we are used to.
With the Heat easing to a win, Butler spent the most of the fourth quarter on the bench, not on the court, as he would prefer right now.
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