When Jimmy Butler rolled his right ankle on New York Knicks wing Josh Hart late in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, cameras caught Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra muttering, "F***." His reaction echoed the sentiments of so many: The eighth seed stood no chance without its best player.
Indeed, the Knicks tied the series in Butler's absence, before he returned on five days' rest for Game 3. He has averaged 40 minutes in 13 games since, ousting New York in six games, capturing MVP honors in a seven-game conference finals win over the Boston Celtics and helping the Heat return home tied 1-1 with the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.