Heat F Jimmy Butler (calf) out for Christmas night game

Field Level Media|published: Mon 25th December, 15:34 2023

Dec 16, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) shoots over Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the second half at Kaseya Center. credits: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler will miss Monday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers with a strained left calf.

It is the third consecutive game Butler will miss after he sat out Wednesday's 115-106 victory over the Orlando Magic and Friday's 122-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Butler has played in 23 of the Heat's 29 games this season, averaging 21.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

Also ruled out Monday afternoon for the night game were forward Haywood Highsmith (non-COVID illness) and guard Josh Richardson (back spasms).

According to the Miami Herald, Heat players have combined to miss the fourth-most games in the NBA this season due to injury, just behind the Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons. Among that foursome, the Heat are the only team with a winning record.

Sixers superstar Joel Embiid already was ruled out of the Christmas night matchup after spraining his ankle in Philadelphia's 121-111 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

—Field Level Media