The Heat have put together a solid encore as a follow-up to their run to the 2023 NBA Finals. It's even more impressive considering they've rarely been at full strength this season.
The latest player impacted by the injury bug in Miami is Jimmy Butler, who has been sidelined since sustaining a calf injury on Dec. 18.
This season, Butler is averaging 21.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and a team-high 4.6 assists per game. Here is what we know about Butler's injury and what it means for Miami moving forward.
MORE: Revisiting Jimmy Butler's choice to join the Heat in 2019
What is Jimmy Butler's injury?
Butler's injury is listed as a strained left calf.
Butler last played on Monday, Dec. 18, seeing 34 minutes of action in a close loss to the Timberwolves. The next day, Butler was unable to participate in practice and was ruled out of Miami's visit to Orlando on Dec. 20, the first a string of absences.
WATCH: Follow Jimmy Butler and the Heat all season long on Sling TV
How long is Jimmy Butler out?
On Christmas, it was reported that Butler is close to returning to the lineupI
After playing at home on Christmas Day, Miami has traveled west for a five-game trip with stops in San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Here are Miami's next five games:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Dec. 28 | at Warriors | 10 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Dec. 30 | at Jazz | 5 p.m. | — |
| Jan. 1 | at Clippers | 10:30 p.m. | — |
| Jan. 3 | at Lakers | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
| Jan. 5 | at Suns | 9 p.m. | — |
Jimmy Butler stats
- 21.5 points per game
- 5.2 rebounds per game
- 4.6 assists per game
- 1.1 steals per game
- 0.4 blocks per game
- 1.8 turnovers per game
- 46.2 percent field goal shooting
- 37.7 percent 3-point shooting
- 87.9 percent free throw shooting
