Jimmy Butler is going to miss Friday’s NBA play-in matchup, and he let the 76ers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. that he wasn’t happy about it.
Butler, as confirmed by the Heat on Thursday, strained his MCL during a loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday night, which will force him to miss a win-or-go-home game against the Bulls.
The six-time All-Star appeared to hurt himself early on in the game when he went for the basket in the waning seconds of the first quarter.
Jimmy Butler reacts after a collision during the fourth quarter of the Heat’s loss to the 76ers. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports As Butler went up to take a shot near the rim, Oubre jumped high to defend it but ended up falling awkwardly onto Butler’s right knee, which sent the Heat start down to the court and holding onto his right leg.
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He did stay in the game, scoring 19 points in 40 minutes, but was seen limping toward the locker room once the proceedings were finished.
Well, on Friday when the Heat made the announcement that Butler would not be able to play against Chicago, he made sure to call out Oubre in an Instagram comment.
Kelly Oubre Jr. reacts after scoring during the fourth quarter of the76ers’ win over the Heat. Getty Images
“We throwing hands,” Butler wrote in his comment, tagging Oubre’s account in the process.
After the game, Butler said the injury affected him, as he only hit 3-of-14 baskets after the collision with Oubre.
“I thought the adrenaline would kick back in and I’d be able to move,” Butler said, according to the Associated Press. “And it just wasn’t the case. I wasn’t able to do anything on either side of the ball and I think I hurt us more than I helped us, actually.”
Miami will now be without both Butler and guar Terry Rozier (neck) with its season on the line against the Bulls.
