NBA Finals 2020: Injury updates on Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic

Kyle Irving

NBA Finals 2020: Injury updates on Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic image

Nothing went in the Miami Heat's favour in Game 1 of the 2020 NBA Finals.

If losing in blowout fashion wasn't enough of a tough start to the series, they also saw three of their key players suffer various injuries throughout the contest.

Below, we'll keep you posted with any updates on the injuries of Bam Adebayo, Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler.

Bam Adebayo – left shoulder sprain

Bam Adebayo

Adebayo's physical play has helped the Heat reach the Finals, but his body has taken a toll, and we saw that play out in Game 1.

In a collision with Dwight Howard on a drive in the third quarter, Adebayo appeared to hurt his shoulder that was ailing from Miami's Eastern Conference Finals series against the Boston Celtics.

Adebayo left the game and did not return, undergoing an X-ray on his left shoulder sprain that returned negative, according to the Heat.

The Heat originally listed Adebayo as doubtful for Game 2 with a "neck strain," but he's since been ruled out, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Heat are reportedly hopeful that he can return for Game 3.

Goran Dragic – torn plantar fascia in left foot

#Dragic

The biggest blow to the Heat comes from Dragic's Game 1 foot injury.

On an awkward play in the second quarter, Dragic came up hobbling, favouring his left foot. He would leave the game and not return, receiving X-rays before the game's conclusion.

After the loss, Dragic was diagnosed with a torn plantar fascia in his left foot.

Dragic hasn't yet been ruled out for the series, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, but history of a torn plantar fascia doesn't favour the Heat's starting point guard.

Courtesy of The Athletic's Jared Weiss, NBA players have missed an average of 13 games with the injury in recent years.

One player missing from that list is former All-Star Joe Johnson, who played through the very same injury in the 2013 NBA Playoffs. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, that didn't turn out too well for Johnson.

While Dragic hasn't been ruled out, it's unfair to expect the same version of Miami's leading scorer this playoffs.

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Dragic has been ruled out for Game 2.

Jimmy Butler – left ankle sprain

jimmy butler, lebron james

Butler rolled his ankle on a drive in the second quarter of Game 1 but would play through the injury. He tweaked it again in the second half, but brushed off the severity of the ankle sprain postgame.

Butler said it was "a little bit sore," adding, "I'll be okay. Some treatment and get ready to go again. I gotta be ready to go. We'll see how it feels (Thursday), but I'll be fine."

Expect to see Butler in Game 2.

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Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.