Jimmy Butler again out for Miami Heat on Tuesday vs. Atlanta Hawks

Life without star Jimmy Butler will continue for the Miami Heat.

After missing Sunday’s home win over the Atlanta Hawks because of right knee inflammation, Butler will miss his second straight game Tuesday against the Hawks at AmericanAirlines Arena.

“He’s making improvement,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said before Tuesday’s game. “But we think it’s best that we not play him tonight. We’ll just continue to evaluate him day to day.”

Tuesday marks the 14th game Butler has missed this season — two because of a sprained right ankle, 10 because of the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols and two because of knee inflammation.

Spoelstra said it’s too early to predict whether Butler will be available for Thursday’s road matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Heat’s final game before the All-Star break. Miami then has a week off from game action before resuming its schedule on March 11 against the Orlando Magic at AmericanAirlines Arena.

“Right now, he’s just day to day, and we’re just monitoring his progress,” Spoelstra said. “He’s getting in some good work with [trainer] Armando [Rivas] and we’ll just continue to evaluate.”

While the Heat (17-17) won without Butler on Sunday, it’s just 4-9 in games that he has missed this season. Miami is 13-8 in games the Butler has played.

Butler is averaging 20.1 points and career highs in rebounds (7.8) and assists (7.8) this season.

Miami has 14 players available for Tuesday’s contest, with guard Avery Bradley (left calf strain) and center Meyers Leonard (season-ending left shoulder surgery) also unavailable for the Heat. It marks the 14th consecutive game that Bradley has missed.