On the shores of Lake Erie, a pair of Eastern Conference teams on the safe side of the playoff cut line battle it out for three crucial points. The Miami Heat will be playing the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
Injury Reports Donovan Mitchell and Jimmy Butler for Heat – Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell (groin) logged 20 minutes and recorded 11 points (5-9 FG, 1-3 3Pt), three assists, and one steal in Sunday’s 122-99 victory over the Clippers.
Mitchell, who had missed time with a groin injury, returned on Sunday and got some much-needed rest in the game’s final minutes. The show was boring, but at least he made it through the game without getting hurt.
Cavaliers’ decision to ease him back into action could lengthen the wait time for managers given his importance to the team.
Heat star Jimmy Butler is listed as “questionable” for Tuesday’s game against the Cavaliers due to a right quadriceps contusion, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Butler has played 33 minutes in each of Miami’s previous two games, so his status for Tuesday’s game against Cleveland is in question. If for some reason the star forward can’t play tonight, he’ll get another shot-on Thursday when the team plays the Knicks.
The Cavaliers injuries
| PLAYER | UPDATED | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Kevin Love | Jan. 30 | Back |
Questionable
|
| Dylan Windler | Jan. 24 | Hamstring | Out |
Love is expected to play against the Heat on Tuesday despite a back injury. Love missed Sunday’s victory over the Clippers because he once again suffered from back spasms shortly before tipoff. However, he did participate in Monday’s practice and showed no signs of injury, so he will rejoin the team’s starting lineup on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff reported that Windler was making strides in his recovery from a hamstring injury. He suffered a right ankle sprain but is now healthy enough to return to action this year.
The Heat injuries
| PLAYER | UPDATED | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Gabe Vincent | Jan. 30 | Ankle | Questionable |
| Jimmy Butler | Jan. 30 | Quadriceps | Questionable |
| Duncan Robinson | Jan. 4 | Finger | Out |
| Nikola Jovic | Jan. 4 | Back | Out |
| Omer Yurtseven | Nov. 13 | Ankle |
Out
|
Omer Yurtseven had surgery on his ankle on November 15 and will be out for a long time. Duncan Robinson had surgery on his finger on January 5, and he won’t be able to play again until early February.
