Heat’s Jimmy Butler says toe injury less severe than initially feared: ‘I was scared’

MIAMI — Even with the Miami Heat ruling Jimmy Butler out for a fifth consecutive game with a toe injury, which will make it his ninth absence in the past 10 games, Butler said Tuesday he feels fortunate.

“I actually thought it was way worse than it really was,” he said of the injury sustained in the third quarter of the Dec. 30 road loss to the Utah Jazz. “I was scared for a much larger reason, because of a bruise or a bone, whatever you want to call it. I’m just so glad it wasn’t what myself and some other people may have thought.”

Butler’s injury is listed as a 1st MP Joint Sprain in his right foot. But no, he said, it is not turf toe.

“I don’t think it’s turf toe because I’ve actually had turf toe before, on this foot, back in my Chicago days,” he said. “And that’s bad, it’s really bad. No, it’s not that. It’s just a foot and a toe.”

Butler had missed four consecutive games with a strained left calf prior to his return against the Jazz. He said he does not believe this latest injury is a compensation injury.

“I don’t know. I’m not a doctor,” he said. “The trainers may think so. I just think stuff happens. But we’re doing everything we can to get me back on the floor. I can’t say that. I’m moving better and I can break a little sweat. And I promise I’ll be ready to go when I can.”

Butler shot on the side at Tuesday’s practice.

“It’s progressing well,” he said. “I just stepped wrong and I think a toe is a part of the foot, so it’s like the midfoot area. But it’s getting better, moving a little bit better. I still got couple of more days, honestly, until we can get tolerable pain in there, and then I’ll be ready to go.”

So a no-go for Wednesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the second game of this four-game homestand that opened with a victory Monday night over the Houston Rockets and continues Friday night against the Orlando Magic.

Instead, more days like Tuesday of testing the foot and then taking stock.

“Moving up and down for sure, just to see how my body reacts to that, rest,” Butler said of his regimen. “The same recovery as always. But definitely cutting, jumping, all of that good stuff.”

Wednesday will be Butler’s 13th absence of the season. Under a rule put in place starting this season, players must appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for NBA awards, meaning no more than 17 absences over the 82-game schedule.

No matter, said Butler.

“What do you think? You think I’m worried about some reward? Nah,” he said, having been named second-team All-NBA last season, when he appeared in 64 regular-season games before helping the Heat to the NBA Finals.

Instead, he said it is about making good on his vow to coach Erik Spoelstra and Heat President Pat Riley of securing the ultimate prize.

“The only reward that I give a damn about is those banners over there,” he said, pointing to the Heat replica championship banners on the wall of the team’s practice facility. “And that’s what I told Spo and I told Pat and I told my guys that I’m going to help us get. I don’t need no end-of-season reward.”

So for now, it’s all about the toe, and only the toe, after what he said was quite the scare.

“You saw how I limped all the floor,” he said of that moment in Utah. “It was bad. It’s not nearly as bad now. I can put my shoe on and tie it without too much pain. So I’m smiling because I know I’ll be back soon.”

The dunk show

Rookie guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. all but confirmed he will participate in the dunk contest during All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis on Feb. 17, when he said after practice he could neither confirm nor deny an invitation. The NBA is scheduled to announce the invitations in coming weeks for the All-Star Saturday skills competitions ...

Guard Kyle Lowry and forward Caleb Martin both were away from practice due to lingering illnesses. Guard RJ Hampton was back after missing Monday night’s game with a stomach ailment.

Lowry (sprained left hand) is listed as doubtful for Wednesday, as is Martin (sprained right ankle).

Beyond Butler, also out Wednesday are Cole Swider (G League) and Dru Smith (knee).