Is Jimmy Butler playing tonight against the Celtics? Latest injury update on Heat's star ahead of match up (23rd May 2023)
Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat stunned the Celtics yet again in a 128-102 Game 3 win to put them up 3-0 in the series. The Heat handled their business and protected their home-court advantage as they seized momentum right from the start.
In a closeout Game 4 matchup, Jimmy Butler is available to suit up as he looks to lead his team to the NBA Finals with a win tonight. Throughout this series, Butler is averaging 26.0 points (46.0% shooting, including 33.3% from 3-point range), 7.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists.
With just one win away from the finals, Butler has maintained his dominance in the playoffs by continuing to play winning basketball.
Jimmy Butler started things off by eliminating the team with the best record in the NBA, the Milwaukee Bucks. During the first-round series, Butler averaged 37.6 ppg (59.7% shooting, including 44.4% from 3-point range), 6.0 rpg, and 4.8 apg. He was electric all series long with 56 points in Game 4 and followed it up with 42 points to close the series out.
In the second-round series against the Knicks, Butler averaged 24.6 ppg (43.2% shooting), 7.2 rpg, and 6.0 apg. His shooting numbers took a hit, especially at the 3-point line with 11.1% shooting, but he still delivered when it mattered most.
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo's leadership roles
Following the impressive Game 3 win, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra praised Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo for their leadership in helping the other players excel.
"Jimmy and Bam are both fueling that," Spoelstra said. "They're infusing those guys with confidence. In all the moments of truth, Jimmy is going to put his will on the game and that's what everybody wants from him. Same thing goes for Bam. The beauty in their relationship is they both know, at this point, how specal and unique that partnership is."
During a team shootaround yesterday, Kyle Lowry was asked about Jimmy's elite level of play in this year's postseason run.
"Jimmy Butler, he's the best player in the world right now," Lowry said. "He's just unbelievably good and he's on our side. There are other players that are really good, that are really on that level but I'm going to roll with him because he's that good."
Butler was able to lead his Miami Heat to the finals back in the 2020 playoffs. He is one win away from pulling off another finals appearance with him leading the charge.