It was a mixed night for Miami Heat fans at the Kaseya Center on Friday.
While All-Star forward Jimmy Butler returned from suspension, the Heat suffered a 133-113 blowout loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Butler, who scored 18 points, had been suspended for seven games due to “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks.”
Along with the suspension, the team announced they would consider trade offers for the 14-year veteran.
Two weeks later, no trade has materialized, and Butler remains in Miami.
With his future uncertain, the Miami crowd greeted the six-time All-Star with a lukewarm reception during pregame introductions, prompting a smirk from Butler.
Before the game, Butler’s agent, Bernard Lee, paid homage to NBA legend Michael Jordan by posting, “I’m back.”
Butler finished with 18 points, three rebounds, and two assists on 7-of-15 shooting.
After the game, Butler told the media he wasn’t surprised to return to the starting lineup given the events of the past two weeks.
“It was a lot said by everybody, except for me to tell you the truth,” Butler told reporters. “We will let people keep talking. Like they know everything, like they have all the answers. And then sooner or later the whole truth will come out but until then, we will continue to let people talk.
“And if I’m here, I will get out there and play.”
The NBA trade deadline is set for February 6. Butler said he has “no beef” with his Heat teammates.
“It felt good to get out there and actually run around with these guys, as much as everybody may think, I got no problem with these guys. …My beef is not with them, it never will be. Never has been,” Butler added.
However, Butler declined to comment when asked if the situation is “fixable.”
The suspension followed Butler hinting at wanting a trade, saying in a press conference, “I want to get my joy back.”
After the Heat’s 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers on January 2, Butler was asked if he could find that joy in Miami.
“Probably not,” he replied.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was straightforward about his team’s performance, stating he wouldn’t engage with any storylines about Butler.
“I know what storylines you’re looking for. I’m not feeding into it. We got our a**es kicked tonight,” Spoelstra told reporters.
The Nuggets dominated the Heat all night, with Jamal Murray scoring 30 points and Nikola Jokic posting his league-leading 17th triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The loss dropped the Heat to 20-20 on the season, moving them behind the Detroit Pistons into 10th place in the Eastern Conference.
The Heat are set to host the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.