The Miami Heat enter tonight’s game against the 18-16 Suns with the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference with a 20-14 record and are coming off a 110-96 victory in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Wednesday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!However, the Heat will be without Jimmy Butler for the third consecutive game tonight with right toe MP joint irritation. Butler has missed seven of the team’s last eight games due to the injury.
His absence has not mattered so far for Miami, as the Heat have gone 5-1 in the six games Butler has missed and fell to the Utah Jazz on Dec. 30 in the one game he did play over this stretch. Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. has stepped up huge in the void left by Butler.
Also included on the injury report for Miami is Caleb Martin, who is listed as doubtful with a right ankle sprain. Haywood Highsmith is out in concussion protocol, while Dru Smith is out for the season after undergoing right knee surgery.
#MIAvsPHX INJURY UPDATE: Jimmy Butler (right toe MP Joint irritation) and Orlando Robinson (G League assignment) have both been ruled out of tomorrow night’s game vs the Suns.
Caleb Martin (ankle) is listed as doubtful.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 4, 2024
For the Suns, Kevin Durant (right hamstring strain), Eric Gordon (right knee soreness) and Nassir Little (left knee soreness) remain questionable. Damion Lee is out due to right meniscus surgery that he underwent in the offseason.
Durant has missed the last two games due to the hamstring injury, and it was changed from soreness to a strain leading up to this game.
Yesterday, coach Frank Vogel said that Durant did some non-contact work and worked with trainers during the team’s practice, adding that the superstar forward is “making progress.”
The Suns are looking to bounce back from Wednesday’s 131-122 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. This game snapped Phoenix’s four-game winning streak.
Tonight’s game tips off at 7 p.m. MST at Footprint Center.
Stay tuned for further updates.
Kevin Durant & Eric Gordon listed as questionable against Heat
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
