Pacers Face Heat Without Butler in NBA Cup Clash

Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler sidelined with ankle injury as they prepare to face Indiana Pacers in NBA Cup group play.

Jimmy Butler will miss his third consecutive game due to a right ankle sprain, impacting the Miami Heat's lineup against the Indiana Pacers.
Tyler Herro has stepped up in Butler's absence, averaging a career-high 24.9 points per game, including a 40-point performance against the Detroit Pistons.
The Heat are looking to recover from a controversial overtime loss to the Pistons, where a coaching error cost them the game.
The Indiana Pacers, led by Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin, are set to play their first NBA Cup game, with a challenging schedule against playoff teams so far.
The Heat and Pacers will meet again on Sunday, but that game will not count towards the NBA Cup standings.