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Heat suspending Jimmy Butler two more games

Wed Jan 22 6:10pm ET
Field Level Media

The Miami Heat suspended Jimmy Butler for a second time this month on Wednesday, electing to keep the star out two more games after he missed a team flight to Milwaukee, ESPN reported.

Butler already served a seven-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, as the Heat went 3-4 from Jan. 4-15. The six-time All-Star had requested a trade, saying his relationship with the team had soured beyond repair.

After Butler missed five games in December with an illness, the team was not satisfied with his level of play upon his return and enacted the seven-game suspension for conduct that had become an issue "over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks."

At the time, Butler said he "probably" would never be content playing for the Heat again, but he returned from his suspension Jan. 17 and averaged 13.0 points with 3.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists as the team went 1-2.


On the season, Butler has averaged 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists.

According to the report, Butler was a no-show for the team's flight in advance of a game against the Bucks on Thursday. Butler will now miss the game at Milwaukee as well as one Saturday at Brooklyn.

At the time that Butler's original desire to be traded was known, Heat president Pat Riley said the team was not going to trade one of its top players. After the first suspension was handed out, Riley said the team was willing to listen to trade offers.

Player Notes
Jake LaRavia Wed Jan 22 7:10pm

Memphis Grizzlies forward Jake LaRavia (back) will miss Wednesday's contest against Charlotte. This is unsurprising, as the team listed LaRavia as doubtful on the initial injury report. LaRavia has flaws in his game, but he has featured fairly prominently in the rotation throughout the campaign, averaging 21.8 minutes a night. We may see more of GG Jackson II and Santi Aldama due to LaRavia's absence on Wednesday. Aldama has already been a regular in the rotation, while Jackson II logged 11 minutes in his season debut on Monday against Minnesota.

Luke Kennard Wed Jan 22 7:00pm

Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Luke Kennard (ankle) has been upgraded from probable to available ahead of Wednesday's clash against Charlotte. The former Duke product is ready for an eighth consecutive appearance. Kennard has finally found his shooting stroke in 2025, sinking 51.4 percent from beyond the arc to average 11.1 points. The Hornets allow the eighth-most three-point attempts in the league, making this a favorable matchup for Kennard.

Jalen Williams Wed Jan 22 6:50pm

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams (hip) has received the all-clear to play in Wednesday's matchup against Utah. There was a possibility of Williams being unavailable for a second straight game when the team listed him as questionable on the initial injury report. Luckily for the Thunder, Williams has recovered from a hip strain and is ready for Wednesday's fantasy-friendly matchup. The Jazz have the second-lowest defensive rating in the league but are ranked near the top 10 in pace.

Isaiah Joe Wed Jan 22 6:50pm

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (illness) will not suit up for Wednesday's meeting with Utah. He is a late scratch for the contest due to an illness. Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins will have a chance to pick up extra shifts with Joe unavailable, while Jaylin Williams will be moved to the starting unit. The 22-year-old has averaged 10.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists over three previous starts this season. This should be another productive evening for Williams, as only Washington gives up more fantasy points to centers than Utah.

Lauri Markkanen Wed Jan 22 6:40pm

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (back) will rejoin the action on Wednesday against Oklahoma City. He is back in the mix after missing four games due to back spasms. Markkanen has elevated his game since the turn of the year, averaging 22.6 points. John Collins (back) also returns for the Jazz on Wednesday, meaning that the likes of Svi Mykhailiuk, Drew Eubanks, and Kyle Filipowski will be less involved in the rotation.

Brice Sensabaugh Wed Jan 22 6:40pm

Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (ankle) will not play on Wednesday against Oklahoma City. He must skip at least one game due to a right ankle sprain. Sensabaugh was initially considered questionable for Wednesday, so it's possible his absence will be limited to just this one contest. With a number of regulars out of the lineup, Sensabaugh has impressed, averaging 18.0 points on 40 percent three-point shooting in January. However, the Jazz welcome back John Collins (hip) and Lauri Markkanen (back) on Wednesday, meaning Sensabaugh's role may be limited when he returns to the lineup.

John Collins Wed Jan 22 6:30pm

Utah Jazz forward/center John Collins (hip) will return from an eight-game absence on Wednesday against Oklahoma City. A hip injury knocked Collins out of the lineup after he had enjoyed a productive start to the season. The 27-year-old averages 17.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals for the campaign. However, Collins may see only limited action on Wednesday after playing just once since Dec. 21, and he faces a top defensive team, which might also hinder his productivity.

Caris LeVert Wed Jan 22 6:20pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Caris LeVert (wrist) will miss a second consecutive game on Wednesday against Houston. He has been downgraded from questionable to out as LeVert is unable to play through a sprained wrist. Due to LeVert's unavailability, Georges Niang, Ty Jerome, and Sam Merrill have an opportunity to play expanded roles off the bench. Jerome has been the most reliable fantasy producer among those players. LeVert's next chance to return will be on Friday versus Philadelphia.

Franz Wagner Wed Jan 22 6:10pm

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (oblique) has been upgraded to questionable ahead of Thursday's matchup against Portland. This indicates that Wagner is getting close to returning to action. He has been out since Dec. 6 with a right oblique tear. Before suffering the injury, Wagner was on fire at the start of the year. He has averaged 24.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists for the campaign. Fantasy managers likely won't get the same production out of Wagner in his first games back, but it shouldn't take him long to shake off any rust. Wagner's return is bad news for Tristan Da Silva, who will be bumped to the bench.

Naji Marshall Wed Jan 22 6:00pm

Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (illness) is not available against Minnesota on Wednesday. He is forced to sit out the first leg of a back-to-back due to an illness. Marshall carried a questionable tag initially, so there's a chance he may hop back into the lineup on Thursday against Oklahoma City. The Mavericks are once again down to bare bones, meaning Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, and P.J. Washington will have a lot of work to do on the offensive end. Quentin Grimes (back), who is returning from a one-game absence, will likely be heavily involved right off the bat, with Olivier-Maxence Prosper seeing extra action in the rotation.

Ziaire Williams Wed Jan 22 5:50pm

Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.comreports that Brooklyn Nets forwardZiaire Williams(ankle)has been ruled out ahead of Wednesday's game against the Phoenix Suns. Williams will miss the second consecutive contest due to an ankle sprain he suffered on Sunday against the Thunder. With several players out of action for the Nets on Wednesday, players like Keon Johnson, Tosan Evbuomwan, Tyrese Martin, and Jalen Wilson will see an uptick in minutes on the floor and plenty of scoring opportunities.

Quentin Grimes Wed Jan 22 5:50pm

Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Quentin Grimes (back) will return from a one-game absence on Wednesday against Minnesota. Back spasms forced Grimes to miss Monday's matchup against Charlotte. He makes a very welcome return on Wednesday, as the Mavericks are again short on bodies and need all the help they can get. Grimes has averaged 13.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 25.6 minutes this month.

Bradley Beal Wed Jan 22 5:50pm

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's contest against Brooklyn. Beal is dealing with a left ankle sprain. There was hope that he could feature against the Nets, as Phoenix initially listed him as questionable on the injury report, but the team has since downgraded him to out. As a result of Beal's absence, we should see Royce O'Neale and Grayson Allen log extra minutes off the bench. On paper, this looks like a very good matchup for a sharpshooter like Allen, as the Nets allow the highest opponent three-point percentage in the league this season.

Klay Thompson Wed Jan 22 5:40pm

Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Klay Thompson (ankle) will not take the court for Wednesday's meeting with Minnesota. The veteran sharpshooter has been downgraded from questionable to out. Dallas kicks off a back-to-back on Wednesday, so there is hope Thompson is not dealing with anything serious and can make a quick return to the lineup on Thursday versus Oklahoma City. Quentin Grimes (back) will return to action and should play a larger role in the rotation, while Olivier-Maxence Prosper also has a chance to log more minutes.

D'Angelo Russell Wed Jan 22 5:30pm

Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com reports that Brooklyn Nets point guardD'Angelo Russell(hamstring) will not play on Wednesday against the Suns due to left hamstring injury management. On Tuesday, the 28-year-old was listed as questionable with the same injury. However, he played and posted 23 points, 10 assists, three blocks, two rebounds, and one steal across 31 minutes despite a loss to the Knicks. Brooklyn is the second leg of a back-to-back set, so it's no surprise they are being cautious with all the team's injuries. With Russell resting, Keon Johnson,Reece Beekman, andTyrese Martin will take on extra minutes out of the backcourt.

Jalen Johnson Wed Jan 22 5:30pm

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (shoulder) will be active against Detroit on Wednesday. He has shaken off a questionable tag ahead of the contest and will take the court for a third consecutive game. Johnson recently missed five games due to shoulder inflammation, and his shooting has been off since his return. Atlanta's rising star has managed only 9-for-25 from the field over the past two games. He has finished four consecutive appearances without at least 20 points for the first time this season.

Jimmy Butler Wed Jan 22 5:20pm

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler will sit out the rest of the week. Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday that Miami plans to suspend Butler for two more games for missing the team's flight to Milwaukee. Miami faces the Bucks on Thursday and visits the Nets on Saturday. Butler only recently returned from a seven-game team suspension for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team." Nikola Jovic went on a bit of a tear with Butler out of the lineup. Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s fantasy stock also receives a boost due to his absence.

Trae Young Wed Jan 22 5:20pm

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young (Achilles) will play against Detroit on Wednesday. He has been upgraded from probable to available. Young is a regular on the injury report but has missed only a handful of games during the campaign and typically carries a heavy load when he's on the court. The star guard has averaged 23.3 points and 11.7 assists in 35.8 minutes. He racked up a 35-point double-double in this season's first head-to-head clash against Cade Cunningham and the Pistons.

Cameron Johnson Wed Jan 22 5:10pm

Brooklyn Nets forwardCameron Johnson(ankle) won't play against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. The 28-year-old has been battling a sprained ankle, keeping him off the floor for seven of Brooklyn's previous 10 contests. Ben Simmons(illness) andD'Angelo Russell(rest) will also be unavailable, leaving the team with nine inactive players for the contest. Tyrese Martin will likely continue to fill a major role for the injury-plagued Nets.

Ben Simmons Wed Jan 22 5:00pm

On Wednesday, the Brooklyn Nets announced that guard/centerBen Simmons (illness) won't suit up against the Phoenix Suns. Simmons will miss his third consecutive contest due to an illness. He's played in just 30 games so far this season. D'Angelo Russell(rest) andCameron Johnson(ankle) will also be sidelined leaving the Nets lineup significantly thin versus the Suns. The 28-year-old's next opportunity to play comes at home on Saturday against the Miami Heat.


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