ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler was ruled out of Saturday night’s game at the Orlando Magic with an illness, the team announced late Saturday afternoon.
Butler left Friday night’s home game against Oklahoma City in the first quarter with what appeared to be a left ankle injury. He did not return to the game because of an illness, the Heat said after the 104-97 loss.
Butler was coming off a triple-double with 35 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists in a Tuesday loss at Detroit in which he also posted four steals and no turnovers. According to the Heat, he became of the first NBA player to record those totals without a turnover since turnovers started being tracked in 1977.
It is the sixth missed game of the season for the six-time All-Star and his first since Dec. 2 at Boston.
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Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
TORONTO (AP) — Toronto captain Auston Matthews sat out the Maple Leafs' game Saturday night against the New York Islanders because of an undisclosed injury.
Toronto coach Craig Berube said Matthews took a cross-check to the back late in a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.
Matthews missed nine games last month because of an upper-body injury that saw him travel to Germany for treatment. Berube replied “a little bit of both” when asked Saturday if the current issue is new or related to the star center’s previous absence.
The three-time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goal-scorer skipped the morning skate Friday in Buffalo before scoring against the Sabres. Matthews has 11 goals and 12 assists in 24 games this season.
Ryan Reaves and Connor Dewar slotted into the lineup against the Islanders in place of Matthews and Pontus Holmberg.
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Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) is stopped by Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi (27) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) celebrates after his goal against the Buffalo Sabres with teammates Auston Matthews (34) and Morgan Rielly (44) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
