“I mean, 13 days is a long time away and I just went with the group there in the fourth that was giving us the most and to see if that group could close it out.” said Erik Spoelstra as he benched Jimmy Butler for the fourth quarter. After sitting out five games due to illness and recovery, Jimmy Butler rejoined the Heat lineup on Wednesday against the Pelicans.

Miami didn’t hesitate to slot their six-time All-Star straight back into the starting group. Though his time on the court was limited to just under 25 minutes. That victory nudged Miami’s record to 17-14, solidifying their spot at sixth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Butler has been the center of plenty of NBA trade rumors, and situations like this one—where he doesn’t play the entire fourth quarter—only crank up the drama. It’s hard not to notice when a star like Butler is benched during crunch time. If you’re following the buzz, you already know how moments like this can spark even more speculation. But for now he suiting up for the Heat. The Heat are going back-to-back and will be taking on the Indiana Pacers.

No one reported injuries against the Pelicans, so Butler will play. The team based this report on their Pelicans game, as they don’t have to submit an injury report until just before tipoff.

Josh Richardson (heel) missed Wednesday’s game against the Pelicans, continuing his absence since Nov. 18 due to a right heel injury. Right now, there’s no set timeline for his return, but he’s unlikely to play against the Pacers on Jan. 2. Fans are starting to wonder when he’ll finally make it back, but patience is key here.

After undergoing surgery for a ruptured left Achilles tendon, Dru Smith will miss the rest of the season. Let us take a look at the Heat’s depth chart before the matchup.

Will Jimmy Butler see an increased role in his 2nd match after coming back the injury?

The Miami Heat are finally finding their groove after a rough start, and their recent wins against the Pelicans and Rockets have them looking like they’re on the rise. Tyler Herro has been more than just filling the gap—he’s been a spark plug on offense, keeping the team alive when needed. Bam Adebayo’s contributions haven’t gone unnoticed either.

Plus, Jaime Jacquez Jr. has stepped up as a spot-up shooter who can catch fire at just the right moment. Things are starting to click in Miami, and it’s fun to watch.

Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers have been making the most of their injury-plagued roster. The addition of Pascal Siakam has been a huge game-changer for them. Siakam leads the team with 19.9 points per game and 7.2 rebounds, proving he’s a key asset. Tyrese Haliburton, meanwhile, is focusing on his playmaking, averaging 8.6 assists, and he’s now ranked fifth in the NBA.

With so much young talent, the Pacers’ main challenge is staying healthy and keeping that consistency rolling throughout the season.

It’s interesting that both teams have taken a win off each other this season, with each game decided by nine or more points. With both teams heating up, who do you think will come out on top next? It’ll be a showdown worth watching.