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Knicks embarrassingly miss opportunity to attack hobbled Jimmy Butler

By Jordanna Clark

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 30: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat stands near the three point line in the first half against the New York Knicks during game one of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Madison Square Garden on April 30, 2023 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 30: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat stands near the three point line in the first half against the New York Knicks during game one of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Madison Square Garden on April 30, 2023 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Injuries are part of the game, but that doesn’t make them any less unfortunate when they happen, even when it involves a player that’s going up against the New York Knicks. With Julius Randle out for New York with a sprained ankle, Miami was at risk of losing its top player to an ankle injury late in the game.

In the fourth quarter on Sunday, Jimmy Butler suffered an ankle injury. He rolled his right ankle after driving to the basket when Josh Hart slid into him. Butler stayed on the ground for a minute grabbing it, but he remained in the game to shoot his two free throws. Butler was toughing it out, but he was limping and clearly in pain for the final five minutes of the game, but the Knicks didn’t exploit the fact that they had a 5-on-4 advantage.

Instead, New York embarrassed itself on the offensive end by setting a screen for RJ Barrett so that a hobbled Butler would switch off him. In case you’re wondering if there was a reasonable explanation for that decision, there isn’t one.

The Knicks were down by five after Butler knocked down both of his free throws after getting injured, but failed to get anything going. Meanwhile, the Heat went on a 9-2 run.

Knicks fail to target injured Jimmy Butler down the stretch in Game 1

It makes even more sense now why Jimmy Butler said that he wasn’t worried about going up against his former coach Tom Thibodeau in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Thibodeau couldn’t even make the adjustment to attack a one-legged Butler down the stretch.

After the game, Butler was asked how his ankle felt, to which he said: “Like a rolled ankle.” He didn’t need to say that for it to be evident that he wasn’t 100 percent to finish the game.

Given that he stayed on the court to close Game 1 with what Erik Spoelstra called a sprained ankle postgame, Knicks fans can go ahead and assume that Butler is going to do everything in his power to play in Game 2. He’s called Playoff Jimmy for a reason. However, remember that Julius Randle exists. New York could’ve used his toughness in Game 1 and will hopefully get him back healthy in time for Game 2.

This series is far from over.

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