Jimmy Butler had missed four games with a bruised tailbone but returned Monday night to take on the Grizzlies. Then, in the first quarter, this happened.
Jimmy Butler drives and lands on his injured tailbone once again...He is down on the floor in pain...@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/NbF4NAgdPv
— Bally Sports Sun: HEAT (@BallyHEAT) December 7, 2021
He stayed in the game for much of the rest of the first half but was clearly not himself or moving well. After halftime, he did not come back out of the locker room.
#MEMvsMIA INJURY UPDATE: Jimmy Butler left tonight's game after re-aggravating his tail bone injury and will not return.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 7, 2021
Postgame, coach Erik Spoelstra had no real update, saying Butler would be re-evaluated on Tuesday and they would move forward from there.
The Heat have dropped 4-of-5 since Butler first was out with a tailbone injury and face the defending champion Bucks on Wednesday. Butler, averaging 22.8 points per game, has played well enough to get consideration for bottom-of-the-ballot MVP votes this season.