Jimmy Butler, forward for the Miami Heat, is anticipated to lose a significant portion of the team’s season due to a knee ιnjury that rendered him nearly non-functional following Wednesday night’s costly road play-in loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. With only a limited amount of time remaining in the season, Butler’s absence could be protracted.

At 3:30 p.m., an MRI of Butler’s right knee is scheduled. The day before, on Friday night, the Heat will face the Chicago Bulls at Kaseya Center in a winner-take-all Eastern Conference finale that will determine their season.

Wednesday night, while perusing a quiet room in Philadelphia from by his locker, Butler found himself speaking for an instantaneous moment about himself and his team.

“I have an unpleasant feeling.” “That much I can sаy,” he declared.

The remark pertained to the knee strain he endured during a first-quarter collision with 76ers forward Kelly Oubre, in which he absorbed the majority of her body weight. However, he could have also been referring to the Heat’s predicament, which is whether to advance to the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs via a best-of-seven system on Friday, or to be relegated to the ignominious NBA draft lottery.

The Heat have, in numerous respects, come to symbolize a team that is stumbling towards a potential conclusion.

A source with close ties to the forward Butler, who was slated to undergo an examination on Thursday that might ascertain his and the Heat’s postseason status, verified that the initial diagnosis was a knee strain.

— Guard Terry Rozier, who was added in January to provide the type of оffensive lift that was frequently lacking in the 105-104 loss at Well Fargo Center on Wednesday night, has been sidelined for the past four contests with neck spasms, according to the team.

Wednesday night’s schedule listed guard Duncan Robinson as available; however, he was unable to participate for the fifth consecutive game on account of left facet syndrome, an ongoing back condition that has prevented him from playing in 10 of the previous 15 contests.

Rozier is still unidentified, having last appeared on April 7 in a drab road loss to the Indiana Pacers, which contributed to the Heat’s desperation-stricken elimination from the play-in round on a night they scored four points.

Robinson was recorded as active on Wednesday evening; however, there is a distinct distinction between being active and being able.

Regarding the Heat’s sole remaining 3-point specialist, coach Erik Spoelstra stated, “He will continue to improve each day he practices.” “Indeed, that is precisely the case. Due to the limited time available for ramping up, he has not been afforded those opportunities.

“I believe he will feel better with each passing step; we shall proceed from there.”

Spoelstra responded when asked whether Robinson was playable in Philadelphia: “These are difficult judgments. Currently, I am unable to provide an answer to that. However, it is evident that he is making progress. “That is precisely what is inspiring.”

Both teams will enter the game incapacitated, with Chicago Bulls defensive stopper Alex Caruso suffering from an ankle ιnjury that prevented him from playing against the Atlanta Hawks at the conclusion of Wednesday night’s home victory.

“I just slightly tweaked my ankle,” Caruso explained. “I dealt with the same ankle for the final two weeks of the season, during which time we were figuring out how to handle the situation.”

However, in terms of injuries, Butler’s condition is the center of attention after he missed 22 games during the regular season. The Heat lost in his absence, 13-9.

Butler stated that upon crashing into Oubre in the final seconds of Wednesday night’s first quarter during a drive, he immediately recognized that something was amiss.

“In other words, I felt as though my knee suffered when he landed,” he explained.

Although Butler completed the game with 19 points in 39:39, he admitted that he was not the same player.

“In all honesty,” he explained, “I had hoped that my epinephrine would return and I would be able to move, but that simply did not occur. “I was unable to contribute in any way, and in all honesty, I believe I caused us more harm than good.”

He was in no way the same.

“It felt like I was unable to do much, which stinks, given the game’s timing and everything else,” he explained. However, we made a minor adjustment and shall observe the outcome of these experiments.

“I sincerely trust that everything is well with me. “At this time, I am unable to assert that this is the case.”

The perseverance was appreciated by teammates.

“Based on the manner in which he was limping and his reaction to the fall, I have no doubt that he was in considerable pаin,” said guard Tyler Herro. “He continued to play despite it in an effort to sacrifice himself for the team.” It goes without saying that everyone is aware of how much he values this season and making the postseason.

Friday will determine whether Playoff Jimmy has additional time.

“In the second half, it really stiffened up on him,” Spoelstra said of the knee. “Thereafter, he managed to make a small amount of progress in the second quarter.” However, as the second half progressed, his mobility began to restrict him even further. Nevertheless, we shall see.”