“Jimmy Butler has been granted a leave of absence as he deals with the death of a family member.”
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler will miss Sunday’s game against the Celtics due to the death of a family member, according to a statement from his agent Bernie Lee.
“Jimmy Butler has been granted a leave of absence as he deals with the death of a family member,” the statement reads. “Jimmy and his family ask for privacy at this point in time as they navigate this loss. Updates will be given when appropriate.”
It is not clear at the moment how long the leave of absence will be.
Butler, who has played in 37 of the Heat’s 42 games this season, is averaging 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He scored 17 points in Miami’s win over San Antonio on Wednesday.
The Celtics are 2-0 against the Heat this year. Boston won, 143-110, the last time in Miami on Jan. 25. The Celtics prevailed, 119-111, in Boston on Oct. 27.
Miami eliminated the Celtics from the playoffs last season when it won the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games.
Sunday’s matchup, which will be televised on ABC, is the last time the two teams will meet during the regular season in 2024.
Leave a Reply