The legendary playoff matchup between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat has become a fixture in the Eastern Conference. In the last four seasons, the two clubs have faced off three times in the Eastern Conference Finals, with Miami going to the Finals twice and Boston to the Championship Series once.
This season, the two teams will square off in the postseason once more, this time in the opening round of what looks to be an epic dogfight of a series. But given the current worries about the health of Jimmy Butler, their star player, the Heat might be starting the series well behind.
With the greatest record in the NBA at the end of the regular season, the Celtics’ advantage over the Miami team has never appeared greater. The Heat’s season has been dismal due to injuries, but they managed to qualify for the playoffs after defeating the Chicago Bulls in the play-in round.
Due to an MCL injury he sustained earlier this week against the Philadelphia 76ers, star guard Jimmy Butler was not available for the game.
The Jimmy Butler injury…
Please be ok pic.twitter.com/NVCxkZYivB
— Nic Rohloff (@nic_rohloff) April 17, 2024
Without Butler, the Heat easily defeated the Bulls, and it appears they will have to get used to doing so going forward. The veteran guard will be out for “multiple weeks” due to an MCL sprain, according to the Heat’s most recent injury report.
He’ll be “out” of tonight’s Heat Game 1 at TD Garden as well.
The expectation is Miami's Jimmy Butler will be out multiple weeks, sources said. Butler remarkably played the final three quarters vs. 76ers last night with what is now feared to be an MCL injury. https://t.co/dEDMAuuXuN
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 18, 2024
The eight-seeded Heat faced a formidable Celtics team, and the odds were already stacked against them. Butler’s injury may deal the team’s hopes of defeating the Celtics a deadly blow.