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Fantasy Week 14 | NBA Week 14

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
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.

Jarred Vanderbilt Wed Jan 22 4:30pm

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Los Angeles Lakers forwardJarred Vanderbilt(foot)has been medically cleared to make his season debut on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors. Vanderbilt has missed all 42 Lakers games this season, recovering from surgeries this past May to address a right midfoot sprain and a bone spur in his left foot. The 25-year-old's minutes on the floor will be limited, initially limiting his fantasy appeal.

Kris Dunn Wed Jan 22 4:10pm

Joey Linn of SI.comreports that Los Angeles Clippers guardKris Dunn(knee) won't play against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. Dunn has been dealing with soreness in his left knee and will be out of action alongside Norman Powell(back),Kawhi Leonard(knee) andIvica Zubac(eye). James Harden (rest) is listed as questionable and may also miss the contest. With so many Clippers players sidelined, Terrance Mann andKevin Porter will likely see expanded roles on Wednesday.

Norman Powell Wed Jan 22 4:00pm

Joey Linn of SI.comreports that Los Angeles Clippers guardNorman Powell(back) is unavailable for Wednesday's matchup with the Boston Celtics. Powell will be out of the lineup for the first time since December 4th. It's likely he's not playing, so he is ready to suit up against Washington on Thursday. Clippers are dealing with a handful of injuries, so it's uncertain who would benefit the most from the loss of the 31-year-old. Terance Mann andKevin Porter Jr. could gain fantasy value with Powell sidelined.

Isaiah Hartenstein Wed Jan 22 8:40am

Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) will miss a fourth straight game on Wednesday against Utah. He remains on the sidelines due to a left soleus strain Hartenstein suffered last Tuesday against Philadelphia. A day later, the team announced that Hartenstein would be re-evaluated in a week, but he isn't ready to return against the Jazz. With Hartenstein unavailable, the Thunder have operated without a natural center in the starting unit. Players like Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins have taken on bigger workloads to compensate for the loss of Hartenstein.

Jalen Williams Wed Jan 22 8:30am

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams (hip) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's meeting with Utah. After sustaining a right hip strain, Williams may need to skip a second consecutive game. With Williams unavailable on Sunday against Brooklyn, Isaiah Joe made his 11th start of the campaign. The sharp-shooting guard went off for 24 points on 8-for-10 three-point shooting. It wasn't surprising, as no team allows a higher three-point shooting percentage to the opposition than the Nets. Joe is in a great position to do further damage on Wednesday, as Utah gives up the most three-point attempts per game in the Association.

Zion Williamson Wed Jan 22 8:20am

New Orleans Pelicans forward/center Zion Williamson (illness) carries a questionable tag on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's game against Milwaukee. An illness knocked Williamson out of the lineup for Monday's contest against Utah, and the same issue might cause him to miss another game. Javonte Green returned to the starting unit to fill in for Williamson but had a quiet evening. He finished a 123-119 overtime win with one point, three rebounds, two steals, and one block. Green averages 7.1 points and 4.1 rebounds as a starter for the season, so he hasn't been very productive for the Pelicans, even in a larger role.

Dejounte Murray Wed Jan 22 8:20am

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (elbow) is listed as probable for Wednesday's clash against Milwaukee. He landed on the injury report with an elbow issue a while back, but the injury has yet to keep Murray out of the lineup. The 28-year-old has averaged 18.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.8 steals since the turn of the year. Jose Alvarado's fantasy stock would receive a substantial boost if Murray suffers a setback and cannot play on Wednesday.

Evan Mobley Wed Jan 22 8:10am

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley (calf) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against Houston. He is forced to miss a third straight game due to a right calf strain. Caris LeVert (wrist) and Max Strus have shared starts during Mobley's absence. LeVert has also picked up an injury and is questionable for Wednesday's game. This means Strus will likely remain among the starters, though he recorded only nine points, two rebounds, and two assists on Monday versus Phoenix. An ankle injury has limited Strus to 14 appearances this season, and he has been far from his best, averaging 7.6 points while shooting 39.8 percent from the field.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Wed Jan 22 8:00am

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) has once again picked up a probable tag on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's action against New Orleans. His name has become synonymous with the Bucks' report, but the eight-time All-Star has played in 11 consecutive games. There is no reason to believe he won't be in the lineup against the Pelicans. Antetokounmpo's scoring output has dipped a bit this month, but he still fills the box score night in, night out. In the last game against Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated with 34 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists.


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