The Miami Heat, still in the midst of the Jimmy Butler controversy, will host the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday afternoon.
At the top, the Spurs, at two games under .500, and the .500 Heat are the same.
Both teams entered this weekend just outside of the playoffs. And both teams lost three games to Miami and two to San Antonio.
But while the Spurs are led by 21-year-old star Victor Wembanyama, the Heat — spiritually — are being dragged down by Butler, 35, who has asked to be traded.
The Heat suspended Butler for seven games for what they called “conduct detrimental to the team.”
On Friday, Butler returned and produced 18 points, three rebounds and two assists in a 133-113 loss to the visiting Denver Nuggets.
It wasn’t easy playing for the six-time All-Star, who averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists last season.
Was Butler’s low stat line Friday due to rust from not playing since Jan. 2?
Was it the lack of effort from the player who said he lost his “joy” in the game?
Or is Butler declining because of his age and the 956 regular season games and playoffs he played during his 14-year NBA career?
Butler gave few clues on Friday as he replied “no comment” when asked if the situation could be resolved.
Indeed, he said that it was good for him to play with his teammates again.
“These guys are good — they’re my friends,” Butler said. “My beef has never been with them.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who is usually very friendly with the media, was brief with some of his answers on Friday.
“I know what stories you want,” Spoelstra told reporters. “I don’t buy into that. We got our asses kicked (by Denver). From a defensive standpoint, it wasn’t good enough, and that’s three straight games.”
Spoelstra also said “his ways are none of your business.”
Meanwhile, the Spurs are coming off of two straight home losses to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mitch Johnson, San Antonio’s interim coach, preaches patience.
“I think our guys are trying to make plays,” said Johnson, who stepped in for Gregg Popovich, who is out for the season due to health issues.
Wembanyama has faced the Heat twice so far, with Miami winning both times. In those two games, he averaged 18.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
But after winning NBA Rookie of the Year last season, Wembanyama has been even better this campaign. He is averaging 24.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a league-leading 4.1 blocks per game.
In the guard section, the Spurs are led by Chris Paul, who is almost twice as old as Wembanyama. Paul, who turns 40 in May, is averaging 9.6 points and leads the team in assists (8.2) and steals (1.4).
Paul’s presence helps explain why the Spurs have improved so much after going 22-60 the past two seasons.
“He saw everything on the basketball court,” Johnson said of Paul. “Having someone like Chris, who probably has a better solution than me … is worth its weight in gold.”
–Field Level Media