Jimmy Butler's Injury Diagnosed as Bruised Glute; Could've Returned To Heat vs. Bucks

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler suffered a bruised glute in the team's 121-99 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night at the Kaseya Center in Miami.

Butler, who finished with a game-high 30 points, landed hard on his back midway through the third quarter and had to head to the locker room later in the period. He returned to the bench but didn't get back in the game as the Heat were firmly in control.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said postgame that the star forward could've gotten back in the game but wasn't needed.

"We pushed the lead to 20," Spoelstra said. "I was going to insert him back into the game if it broke 15."

Butler was the catalyst for Miami's pivotal Game 3 win over the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat now have a 2-1 series lead.

Hearing that Butler may have been able to return to action is a bit of good news for the Heat, who are already operating shorthanded. The team lost Tyler Herro in Game 1 after he suffered a broken hand in the first half.

Herro underwent surgery Friday and is looking at a six-week timeline for his recovery.

Miami also took another huge blow Saturday night after Victor Oladipo suffered a knee injury late in the fourth quarter and had to be helped off the floor and led to the locker room.

Oladipo has a long history of devastating lower body injuries, so it was a terrible sight for everyone in South Beach.

Butler will need to continue his impeccable playoff form if the shorthanded Heat are going to have a chance at making a deep postseason run.