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  • Shines off bench Wednesday
    Batum provided 20 points (7-12 FG, 6-10 3Pt), five rebounds and one block in 28 minutes during Wednesday's 105-104 Play-In Game victory over the Heat.

    Advice: It was widely known that Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey were going to carry the Sixers in this matchup against the Heat, but the truth is that Philadelphia wouldn't have gotten the win hadn't it been for Batum's impressive effort off the bench. The 20-point output was a season-high mark for the veteran, and even though his role is not going to change drastically in the first-round matchup against New York, he should continue to see decent minutes on a regular basis. Perhaps surprisingly, he went scoreless in the four times he faced the Knicks during the regular season. Rotowire.com 43 minutes ago
     
  • Decent stat line in loss
    Jaquez closed Wednesday's 105-104 Play-In Game loss to the 76ers with 15 points (6-11 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, two assists and one steal across 22 minutes.

    Advice: Jaquez looked good despite coming off the bench and was one of Miami's top contributors on offense. He's widely expected to move into the starting lineup for Friday's matchup against the Bulls due to the absence of Jimmy Butler (knee), and that would translate into an uptick in his usage rate. Rotowire.com 52 minutes ago
     
  • Facing multi-week absence
    Butler is expected to be sidelined for several weeks after sustaining an MCL injury to his right knee Wednesday in the Heat's 105-104 loss to the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

    Advice: Butler sustained the injury in the final minute of the first quarter, and while he remained in the game, he was clearly operating at well below full strength and ultimately finished with 19 points (5-18 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 7-8 FT), five assists, five steals and four rebounds in 40 minutes. The Heat will send Butler in for an MRI on Thursday before providing an updated diagnosis of his injury, but the 34-year-old looks safe to count out for Friday's Play-In Tournament matchup with the Bulls, and quite likely, the first round of the playoffs if Miami should advance. Jaime Jaquez has regularly picked up starts when Butler missed time during the regular season, and the rookie first-rounder, as well as Haywood Highsmith and Caleb Martin, could all benefit from added minutes Friday. Rotowire.com Today, 6:58 am
     
  • Thnks fr th mmrs: Jimmy Butler out multiple weeks
    Jimmy Butler will be sidelined for multiple weeks after suffering what is feared to be an MCL injury in Wednesday’s loss to Philadelphia.

    Advice: Butler suffered the injury in the first quarter of Wednesday’s loss but managed to play the rest of the game. He was seen noticeably grimacing throughout the contest, most notably after a steal and fastbreak dunk. Butler’s absence couldn’t have come at a worse time for Miami. The Heat will play in an elimination game Friday against the Bulls, and the winner will advance to face the Celtics as the No. 8 seed. Without “Playoff Jimmy” on the court, Miami will have to lean more heavily on Jaime Jaquez Jr., Haywood Highsmith, Nikola Jovic and Caleb Martin. Rotoworld Today, 6:58 am
     
  • Posts 21 points in final game
    Bogdanovic ended with 21 points (8-18 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals in 37 minutes during Wednesday's 131-116 Play-In Game loss to the Bulls.

    Advice: Bogdanovic jumped in and out of the starting lineup this season but still managed an average of 30.4 minutes per game, a career-best for the veteran. The sharpshooter saw a modest decline in his three-point percentage this season, averaging only 37.4 percent beyond the arc. He ended the season ranked fifth in the league with 651 three-pointers. Bogdanovic is in the midst of a four-year deal with the Hawks and he's expected to remain with the team. Rotowire.com Today, 4:08 am
     
  • Flirts with double-double in win
    DeRozan ended with 22 points (10-19 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds, nine assists, one block and one steal over 44 minutes during Wednesday's 131-116 Play-In Game victory over the Hawks.

    Advice: DeRozan put together another successful season during his third season with the Bulls. Perhaps the biggest feather in DeRozan's cap is his attendance record, as he's played at least 74 games per season over three years in Chicago. The veteran will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, and the Bulls will probably make a competitive offer unless another team presents an irresistible package. For the time being, DeRozan's focus will be on advancing with a win against Miami. Rotowire.com Today, 3:46 am
     
  • DeMar DeRozan pours in 22/6/9/1/1 line vs. Atlanta
    DeMar DeRozan posted a full line on Wednesday with 22 points (10-of-19 FGs), six rebounds, nine assists, one steal, one block and one triple against the Hawks.

    Advice: DeRozan wasn’t the star of the show, but he was able to have an effective night statistically across the board. The Hawks really didn’t have any answers for Chicago’s offense, and DeRozan was no exception. He logged 44 minutes in this game, and he will likely take on a large role once again when they head to Miami to play on Friday. Alex Caruso suffered a foot sprain in this game, and he isn’t expected to play against the Heat, which just means that DeRozan will have to step up even more if they want to make it to the playoffs. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:18 pm
     
  • Dealing with possible MCL injury
    Butler is feared to have sustained an MCL injury in his right knee, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Butler finished out Wednesday's Play-In Tournament game against the 76ers despite sporting a limp in his right leg. While he was reported to be undergoing an MRI on Thursday, Butler's injury could be more serious than initially expected. If it ends up being an MCL injury, it's highly unlikely that Butler will be able to play in Friday's Play-In elimination game. In that scenario, Jaime Jaquez, Haywood Highsmith and Caleb Martin would likely see more minutes. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:10 pm
     
  • Shams: Jimmy Butler ‘feared to have MCL injury’
    Jimmy Butler is “feared to have an MCL injury in his right knee”, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

    Advice: Butler was able to play 40 minutes on Wednesday despite suffering a knee injury at the end of the first quarter. He already said that he was planning to get an MRI, and now it appears that there is a chance that he is sidelined for a while. With only two days between games, there should be a clear update given on Thursday. Heat fans will likely be holding their breath until then. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:10 pm