NBA
Are the Heat eliminated if they lose against the Bulls in the play-in game?
It’s crunch time in the NBA season as the final Play-in games are set to determine which teams advance to the Playoffs.
Just one place in each Conference remains up for grabs as the final game of the three matches that composes the NBA Play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference is scheduled for South Florida on Friday night as Miami Heat face Chicago Bulls.
A No. 8 seed in the Playoffs is on the line for the winner and a chance to meet high flying Boston Celtics with the team from ‘Beantown’ tipped by many as top candidates to win the championship. The loser sees the curtain come down on the 2023-24 season with the game a real ‘do or die’ match-up.
Heat without Butler
Although home advantage will be in Miami’s favour, two key players are ruled out for the Florida side with Jimmy Butler sidelined due to an injury he sustained in the first Play-in game against Philadelphia earlier this week.
The Heat’s injury concerns don’t stop there with Terry Rozier also ruled out of the crunch game with a neck problem.
“It felt like I couldn’t do too much, which sucks with the timing of the game and everything,” Butler said after the Philadelphia game. “I hope that I’m fine. ... Right now, I can’t say that’s the case.”
As things stand, if Miami do progress, it may be unlikely that Butler will be in action for the initial games against the Celtics with Heat fans hoping that the likes of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo can step up to the plate and deliver a place in post-season.