Heat star Jimmy Butler, two others, suspended for game Monday vs. Sacramento Kings
Monday night’s matchup between the Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat will be missing some star power.
The NBA announced Sunday afternoon that Heat standout Jimmy Butler will be suspended one game, forcing him out of Monday’s contest at Golden 1 Center.
According to a news release, Butler was suspended for “instigating and engaging” in an altercation that happened Friday night in New Orleans following a foul from Heat big man Kevin Love on Zion Williamson early in the fourth quarter of Miami’s win.
Pelicans forward Naji Marshall went to defend his teammate after Williamson fell to the ground, leading to pushing and shoving from Butler. Marshall was also issued a one-game suspension.
Heat center Thomas Bryant and Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado were given three-game suspensions for leaving their respective benches and escalating the situation. Miami second-year player Nikola Jovic was suspended for a game for leaving the bench area, meaning the Heat will be without three players when they play Monday against the Kings.
Butler is averaging 22.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game and remains one of the league’s best perimeter defenders. He scored 31 points on 10-of-14 shooting, while making nine free throws, during the Heat’s 115-106 victory over Sacramento in South Florida on Jan. 31.
The six-time All-Star has appeared in 38 of Miami’s 56 games this season while dealing with knee and toe injuries. The Heat are entering Monday’s game having won seven of nine contests — a stretch that began with the win over the Kings. Miami is 31-25 and in the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Bryant averages 4.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game. Jovic is averaging 5.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16.7 minutes.
Sacramento will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back after visiting the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena.
This story was originally published February 25, 2024 at 12:45 PM.
