Erik Spoelstra isn't looking to make excuses. "We're not going to put this on the fact that we've had some injuries," the Miami Heat head coach told

A s the Miami Heat gets set to face the Boston Celtics in a critical playoff game, the focus shifts to Jimmy Butler, sitting on the bench in street clothes, conspicuous still in his absence on the floor. The Eastern Conference Finals reigning MVP has not played since the Heat lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the play-in tournament April 17.

After their Game 2 triumph against the Celtics, Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat issued a confident statement on social media, warning, "Don't let us get one." However, his optimism didn't age well as the Heat faced a decisive loss in Game 5, abruptly ending their playoff run.