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Miami Heat Injury Update: Jimmy Butler’s Chance to Upset Damian Lillard Receives Huge Blow

Published 10/30/2023, 7:42 PM EDT

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The Miami Heat is coming from back-to-back losses. This was their chance to show the Eastern Conference that they are as good as any other contender, and also to lay it on Damian Lillard. However, they are going into this game with a huge handicap. And the Milwaukee Bucks would fancy their chances of having it their way.

It is not easy to stop the Giannis Freight Train even when you have your full house. Let alone when the ‘heart and soul’ of the team is missing. The Heat big man will be sourly missed.

Jimmy Butler goes against Damian Lillard

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It is not a secret that Damian Lillard wanted to come to Miami. But the Heat spurned him and sent him away. Now, he has moved out of not only Portland but also the Western Conference to be in the East. He has paired with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks to show Jimmy Butler and the Heat on what they have passed on.

Though Jimmy sat out against the Timberwolves, he will go against the Bucks whom the Heat trounced in the playoffs last year.

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But Bam Adebayo is out of this Heat-Bucks matchup because of a hip injury giving the advantage to the Bucks.

Butler once said that Bam Adebayo was the heart and soul of the team, and he was right. Bam is a blue collar star whose grit and effort embodies the Heat Culture. Regardless of the wins and losses, he would gut it out till the very last minute on both ends of the court.

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In the 3 games that he has played in the season, he has averaged 22.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks per contest while shooting 48.0% from the field. And in his absence, the Heat would have to compensate for those numbers.

The Season so far

The Milwaukee Bucks are 1-1 and it is their third game of the season. While Miami has a 1-2 record coming into this game. The Heat has struggled in all their 3 games, and barely scrape through with a 103-102 win against the Pistons. Whereas Milwaukee faced a well-prepared Sixers team and secured their first win because of Damian Lillard’s 39-point outburst.

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If it is just about talent, the Bucks are poised for a better season. However, a lot can change before the trade deadline, and hopefully the Heat will equip Jimmy Butler to give the Heat a fair shot at the title.

Watch This Story: Staring Down the Barrel of $1.5 Million Blow, James Harden’s “Unexcused Absence” Is “Only the Beginning” in 76ers Drama, per Veteran Analyst

 

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Written by:

Vinod Pillai

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Vinod is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Having over six years of experience as a creative writer, he combines his passion for basketball with his love for journalism. Being an ardent fan of the NBA, he has been following & learning from reputed insiders & reporters such as Adrian Wojnarowski, Tim Legler, JJ Redick, Stephen A.
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Edited by:

Aayush Kapoor