Heat getting star Jimmy Butler back for Game 3 vs. Knicks

The Miami Heat will get star Jimmy Butler back for Game 3 of its second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks on Saturday afternoon at Kaseya Center.

Butler will play in Game 3 after missing Game 2 with a sprained right ankle that he sustained late in the series-opener.

The Heat managed to keep Game 2 close even with Butler unavailable behind a lot of zone defense and a high volume of three-point attempts, finding itself ahead by six points with 7:06 to play before the Knicks rallied for the win at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday to even the series 1-1.

Butler has arguably been the NBA’s best player this postseason, averaging 35.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 58.5 percent from the field in this year’s playoffs. Only Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has averaged more points (36.9 per game) than Butler in the playoffs.

While Butler will return to play in Game 3, the Heat remains without Tyler Herro (right hand fracture) and Victor Oladipo (torn patellar tendon). Heat veteran forward Udonis Haslem will also miss the game because of a stomach illness.

Caleb Martin (back contusion) and Haywood Highsmith (left knee tendinitis) are available to play for the Heat on Saturday.

The only Knicks player on the Game 3 injury report is Jericho Sims, who remains out after shoulder surgery. New York’s leading duo of Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle are not on the injury report and will play Saturday despite both dealing with ankle injuries earlier in the series.