Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler #22 handles the ball against Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart #36 in the second quarter of Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Playoff Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 21, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. Winslow Townson/Getty Images/AFPO
Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is listed as questionable for Game 4 of Monday’s Eastern Conference Finals after missing the second half of the team’s Game 3 win.
Butler struggles with inflammation in his right knee that periodically bothered him during the playoffs. He also missed the deciding Game 5 of the first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks on April 26 with knee problems.
Butler had eight points going into Game 3 after averaging 35 points through the first two games.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra met with reporters on Sunday before receiving injury updates from the coaching staff.
Boston also has key players bumped like point guard Marcus Smart (right ankle) and big man Robert Williams III (left knee) are questionable and forward Jayson Tatum (neck/shoulder stinger) is likely.
“Marcus has a swelling in his ankle, sprained himself a really bad one,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka told reporters on Sunday. “The match is over, but he will feel it a little more (Sunday). Work and get treatment. See how he feels (Monday).
“Jayson is fine. It’s a sting that went away pretty quickly. And the Rob has improved. He feels better than him (Saturday). … It’s day to day. We will test it (Monday) and see how it feels.
Butler is one of six Miami players listed as questionable. The others are forward PJ Tucker (knee) and guards Tyler Herro (groin), Kyle Lowry (hamstring), Max Strus (hamstring) and Gabe Vincent (hamstring).
The Heat lead the series 2-1 after Saturday’s 109-103 triumph.
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