The Warriors are in Miami, and Jimmy Butler's comeback game against the Heat is near
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler is back in Miami for a few days.
Golden State's schedule is quirky right now — the Warriors played Saturday night in Atlanta, arrived in Miami around 2 a.m. Sunday, play the Heat on Tuesday and the team won't leave South Florida until Thursday afternoon since its next game isn't until Friday in New Orleans.
Tuesday's game will be Butler's first in Miami since the Heat traded him to the Warriors in early February, ending a months-long saga of him wanting a trade and getting suspended by the Heat three times before a deal could finally be worked out.
“Another game for me,” Butler told reporters after Golden State's loss in Atlanta on Saturday night. “Another game that we’re expected to win, for sure, though.”
The Warriors are 16-3 with Butler in the lineup since the trade. The Heat entered their game Sunday against Charlotte on a 10-game losing streak and with a 4-17 record since Butler got moved in a deal that brought Andrew Wiggins to Miami.
The Heat, as they have done with many former All-Star caliber or championship players in their first games back in Miami as an opponent, are planning a tribute to thank Butler for his accomplishments during his 5 1/2 seasons with the franchise. Miami went to the NBA Finals twice during Butler's time with the team.
“We was all right,” Butler said of his Miami years. “We didn’t win like we were supposed to. We made some cool runs. We had some fun.”
Butler left a mark in Miami over his 5 1/2 seasons — eighth in team history in points, eighth in assists, eighth in steals, all of that in just 313 appearances. And in the playoffs, he was exceptional: There have been 18 games of 40 or more points in team postseason history and Butler is responsible for eight of them, including a record 56-point night against Milwaukee in the 2023 playoffs.
He said he loves the Miami fan base — “they showed me a lot of love while I was there,” Butler said — but noted that he's with the Warriors, which means he's showing up Tuesday to win because that's the job.
“I was traded from there, yadda yadda yadda. Yeah, it didn’t end the way people wanted it to, yadda yadda yadda,” Butler said. “But that’s so far behind me now, I don’t even think about it.”
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Topics
-
Heat will give Jimmy Butler a tribute video, but the now-Warriors star sounds indifferent about Miami return
Butler and the Warriors face the Heat in Miami on TuesdayCBS Sports - 17h -
Warriors' Jimmy Butler opens up on tenure with the Miami Heat ahead of return game.
On March 25, the Golden State Warriors forward will face the Miami Heat for the first time since leaving.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
'That's all we did': Jimmy Butler opens up on Heat, Warriors trade
The Golden State Warriors have won 16 of 20 games since trading for Jimmy Butler, while the Heat are 4-17 in that span. Both teams play Tuesday.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Jimmy Butler completely shrugs off his Heat success ahead of first Warriors game in Miami: 'We was aight'
Butler makes his first return to Miami on Tuesday since being traded to the WarriorsCBS Sports - 1d -
Jimmy Butler decidedly ‘yada yada yada’ on Heat matchup, tenure, ‘Had some fun, but that’s all we did’
MIAMI — Warm and fuzzy left the building in the buildup to Jimmy Butler’s move to the Golden State Warriors at the Feb. 6 NBA trading deadline. So, no, the former Miami Heat forward is hardly ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Stephen Curry listed as questionable for Golden State's Tuesday game in Miami
Stephen Curry is back with the Golden State Warriors after missing the first game of the team's road trip with a pelvic contusion, and could play when his team takes on the Miami Heat in Jimmy ...Yahoo Sports - 17h -
Warriors vs. Heat odds, line, prediction, time: 2025 NBA picks, March 25 best bets from proven model
SportsLine's model simulated Miami Heat vs. Golden State Warriors 10,000 times and revealed its NBA picks for Tuesday as Jimmy Butler returns to MiamiCBS Sports - 2h -
Jimmy Butler's Miami coffee shop posts special prices -- for Warriors employees
The Golden State Warriors forward opened his first Big Face Coffee store in Miami in December 2024.ESPN - 19h -
Jimmy Butler's presence on the court and in locker room has sparked the Warriors' resurgence
Since Jimmy Butler joined the Golden State Warriors at the trade deadline from Miami, he has brought an energy and winning mentality they were searching for to make a playoff pushABC News - 3d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Former NFL GM takes OT Kelvin Banks for the Texans in new 2025 mock draft
Mike Tannenbaum might not be the Houston Texans general manager, but if he was, he'd be going after one offensive lineman at pick No. 25.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
Bengals show more pre-draft interest in notable name
More updates on the Bengals working ahead of the 2025 NFL draft.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
Naji Marshall's 22 leads Mavericks to 120-101 rout of Nets in Anthony Davis' return
Naji Marshall scored 22 points off the bench to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 120-101 rout of the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night. P.J. Washington and Spencer Dinwiddie finished with 16 each, ...Yahoo Sports - 13h -
Miami WR potentially tanks draft stock at pro day
2025 NFL draft: How much does Xavier Restrepo's pro day hurt his stock?Yahoo Sports - 17h -
Maryland vs Florida Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends and Stats for 2025 March Madness Sweet 16
Maryland Terrapins vs. Florida Gators Game PreviewYahoo Sports - 18h
More in Sports
-
Watkins' devastating injury shakes up women's NCAA tournament landscape
JuJu Watkins' torn ACL changes the 2025 women's title race, and the effects could linger into next season.ESPN - 14m -
JuJu Watkins injury: USC star's season ends with torn ACL after contact in Women's March Madness game
The school said Watkins will have surgery, followed by rehabCBS Sports - 15m -
2025 NFL Draft: How high will Ashton Jeanty, others go after the 'year of the running back'
Saquon Barkley's 2024 season could impact the NFL DraftCBS Sports - 16m -
MLB season mega-preview: Power Rankings, playoff odds and everything you need for all 30 teams
Whether your team enters Opening Day as a favorite or hoping to be 2025's big surprise, we've got you covered.ESPN - 19m -
Sweet 16 by conference: SEC leads way in 2025 NCAA Tournament as Big Ten, Big 12 also shine in March Madness
The SEC has the most teams, but the Big 12 has the best winning percentageCBS Sports - 21m