Hoops Rumors

Magic center Goga Bitadze, who stepped up when Wendell Carter was injured and started 33 games last season, finds himself in a similar position this fall. With Carter on the shelf due to left foot plantar fasciitis, Bitadze has started the past four games for Orlando and has averaged a double-double (10.5 points, 10.5 rebounds) to go along with 3.0 assists and 1.8 blocks per … [Read more...] about Southeast Notes: Bitadze, Carter, Jovic, Love, Sarr

Jimmy Butler will miss his second striaght game and the Heat’s NBA Cup opener in Detroit on Tuesday, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel tweets. Butler, who has not appeared in more the 65 regular season games the last six seasons due to a variety of injuries, is dealing with an ankle sprain. Butler has a $52.4MM player option after this season and Miami’s front office has been … [Read more...] about Southeast Notes: Butler, Kuzma, Young, Nance Jr.

Heat forward Jimmy Butler has been ruled out of Sunday’s game at Minnesota after leaving Friday’s contest in the first quarter with a sprained right ankle, relays Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. It will be the first missed game of the season for Butler, who has accepted the challenge of trying to be available more often during the regular season. It’s also another obstacle … [Read more...] about Jimmy Butler To Miss First Game With Sprained Ankle

Heat No. 15 overall pick Kel’el Ware got his first meaningful action on Wednesday against Phoenix. He was the second-string center for the first time in his rookie campaign, impressing his teammates in 13 minutes of play, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes. “I think he did great,” Heat star Jimmy Butler said. “Jumping up there, contesting shots, rebounding, he made a … [Read more...] about Heat Notes: Ware, Butler, Larsson, Rotation, Herro

The Heat‘s starting lineup of Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic and Bam Adebayo is being outscored by 16.6 points per 100 possessions through seven games this season. With the team struggling in third quarters, coach Erik Spoelstra made the decision to sub in Haywood Highsmith for Jovic to open the second half against Phoenix on Wednesday, as noted by … [Read more...] about Southeast Notes: Highsmith, Ware, Risacher, Skyhawks, Sarr