Jimmy Butler scores 18 in Heat's 130–110 loss to Nuggets, returning after 7-game suspension

Jimmy Butler scores 18 in Heat’s 130–110 loss to Nuggets, returning after 7-game suspension

Posted by author January 18, 2025 Sports

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Jimmy Butler scored 18 points in his return to the Miami Heat lineup, playing 33 minutes in a 133–113 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

Friday marked the end of Butler’s seven-game suspension, but his future with the franchise remains cloudy. Fans inside Kaseya Center gave Butler a mixed reception when his name was announced during pregame introductions.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said before the game that he was interested in only basketball-related questions that he believed the Heat would perform as these “complexities” surround the team.

“We work in a league of complexity,” Spoelstra said. “We’re in an unusual place right now, but really all it is is complex, and we fully plan on operating within this complexity. It’s my job to prepare this team and get it ready to play at a high level, and that’s what I’m doing. That’s what the plan is. My methods for doing it are really none of your business. You’re all looking for drama, I’m looking for getting this team ready to play at a high level.

“And as far as silly questions like, ‘What is the temperature of the room?’ or ‘How is everybody feeling?’ that just sounds so dramatic. We’re professionals, we’re fine, we’re ready for tonight’s game, and that’s the only thing that matters. We’re looking forward to getting back on the wood. We’ve been on the road for a while, and we’re complete, so we’re looking forward to getting this thing tipped off.”

There were reports before Butler’s return that the team was contemplating extending his suspension, but that never materialized and Butler and his agent built up the PR for his first game since Jan. 2

Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, released a statement on Friday evening emulating Michael Jordan’s two-word announcement when he returned to the NBA in 1995: “I’m back.”

Butler continued the theme, posting several photos of himself on social media wearing the No. 45 Chicago Bulls jersey Jordan wore when he came back.

Butler scored nine points with four assists against the Indiana Pacers in 27 minutes in the game prior to his suspension.

Following the game, he told reporters, “I want to get my joy back” and said that probably wouldn’t happen in Miami. The team suspended Butler the next day for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team.”

Tensions between Butler and the Heat became public after Miami was eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Boston Celtics. Butler missed the entire five-game series with a knee injury suffered during a play-in loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He irritated team president Pat Riley by saying that Miami would have defeated the Celtics had he been able to play.

Butler’s true issue with Miami is that he wants a contract extension, seeking a two-year, $113 million max extension. However, the Heat aren’t interested in extending Butler, which fueled the veteran’s discontentment and preference to be traded.