As the trade winds blow, one name continues to dominate the rumor mill — Jimmy Butler. With whispers of potential suitors growing louder, the future of the Miami Heat star has become increasingly uncertain. Moreover, his recent absence from games has only fueled the speculation. Could this be a pause before a new chapter unfolds in Jimmy’s NBA career? As the Heat prepare to face the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center, all eyes are on whether the 35-year-old will suit up for tonight’s clash, and looking into the team’s injury report could provide some answers.

Heat Injury Report

Jimmy Butler has already missed two straight games due to his illness and nothing has been confirmed about his status tonight. The franchise has listed him as doubtful, with reports suggesting he is undergoing reconditioning.

The 35-year-old small forward was last seen playing against the Thunder, where he was on the court for less than 7 minutes in the opening quarter. The Miami side called for a timeout and Jimmy was escorted to the locker room. While many speculated he had injured his ankle, some reports revealed that the veteran was struggling with a stomach bug. However, there hasn’t been any confirmation regarding that.

Besides Jimmy, Terry Rozier is also on the list due to left knee inflammation. The Heat has yet to clarify his status. For now, the combo guard is now listed as questionable. Meanwhile, both Josh Richardson and Dru Smith remain ruled out. Richardson has been sidelined for over a month due to heel inflammation but is expected to return in the upcoming game against the Hawks. Smith, on the other hand, is dealing with a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. Things have been equally challenging for their Eastern rivals.

Magic Injury Report

Paolo Banchero and the Wagner brothers, Moe and Franz, will be unavailable for this fixture. Banchero has been sidelined for almost two months after tearing his oblique. Franz Wagner too suffered a similar injury in early December. Meanwhile, his brother, Moe Wagner, is out for the entire season due to a torn ACL in his left knee, according to ESPN.

The only player with a slim chance of appearing on Thursday night from Magic’s injury report is Gary Harris. The 30-year-old guard had initially registered his name on the report after straining his left hamstring. However, the Magic have now listed him as questionable and will make a final decision on his availability after assessing his condition. This brings us closer to understanding the potential rotations for both teams. So, let’s take a look at their depth charts.

Heat vs Magic Depth Chart

Heat

Magic

Can the Heat break Magic’s winning streak without Jimmy Butler?

The Miami Heat have picked up their pace quite late but it certainly looks like they are heading in the right direction with a 14-13 record. While it’s uncertain whether Jimmy Butler will be leading them in this game, they continue to embody the staying together mentality that his teammate Bam Adebayo emphasizes. The Heat anyway have been 3-4 without Jimmy this season.

However, the Magic cannot be underestimated. They had the upper hand in the previous two matchups this season and currently hold a 19-12 record, sitting in fourth place of the Eastern Conference, just two spots ahead of the Heat. So, anything can happen in this matchup. Tune in at 7:00 PM ET to see whether the Magic can extend their winning streak to three or the Heat finally breaks it.