NBA All-Star forward Jimmy Butler missed the Miami Heat’s last game against the Sacramento Kings. He will continue to be sidelined when the team takes on the Indiana Pacers on the road.
Butler was a surprisingly late scratch against the Kings. Miami informed the media before the game that “Jimmy Buckets” was dealing with hip soreness. He will not travel with the team to continue his treatment in South Florida.
In eight games this season, he has been the Miami Heat’s leading scorer with 21.5 points and also tops the team in steals with 1.5. He adds 6.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists under a team-high 35.5 minutes.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra inserted Caleb Martin into the lineup in Butler’s absence. While Martin did a decent job, the Heat clearly missed Butler’s all-around excellence. Miami relied on Tyler Herro’s buzzer-beating three-point shot to win the game and improve their record to 4-5.
Meanwhile, former NBA All-Star Ben Simmons will also continue to sit out for the Brooklyn Nets. He played in the team’s first six games before he was abruptly removed from the roster against the Indiana Pacers due to an ailing knee.
Simmons wasn’t also around in Brooklyn’s match against the Chicago Bulls at home, where they blew a sizable lead. The Australian hasn’t been playing to his former NBA All-Star standards and has been heavily criticized for his lack of aggression.
The former NBA Rookie of the Year winner is averaging career-low numbers in scoring, rebounding, steals, field-goal percentage and minutes played. Ben Simmons’ previously elite defense has been missing since his return.
Simmons, who many predicted to become the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year before his troubles began, hasn’t had the expected impact on defense. The Nets are dead last in the league in Defensive Rating.
Brandon Ingram: Concussion; Injured since October 23, 2022
Brandon Ingram played only 11 minutes in the New Orleans Pelicans’ home-opening loss in overtime to the Utah Jazz. He showed concussion-like symptoms after colliding with teammate Naji Marshall.
Ingram missed the Pelicans’ last four games, including a nail-biting loss in another overtime to NBA superstar LeBron James and the LA Lakers.
The former All-Star is putting up 22.0 points in career-high shooting numbers. Ingram’s 57.9% shooting from the field, including 57.1% from beyond the arc, is significantly better than he’s ever averaged in his NBA career.
The New Orleans Pelicans have upgraded him to probable from questionable. Brandon Ingram, however, has cleared concussion protocols and is expected to play against the Golden State Warriors.
The Pelicans, who have unsurprisingly struggled without him, will be happy to welcome him back against the slumping defending NBA champs.
Seth Curry; Left ankle; Injured since October 29, 2022
Seth Curry underwent an off-season ankle procedure and didn’t make his NBA debut this season with the Brooklyn Nets until October 29. Curry came off the bench and missed all of his field-goal attempts. He did have six assists without committing a single turnover.
Curry’s offense will be badly needed for the struggling Nets, particularly without the suspended Kyrie Irving. Brooklyn could make use of his 46.8% shooting from rainbow distance last season. Even if Joe Harris and Patty Mills play, the Nets will need all the scoring help they can give to Kevin Durant.
The Brooklyn Nets have missed Curry’s services over the last two games. He’s listed as questionable but might play in limited minutes if given the clearance to help the embattled team.
