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Deadspin | Jimmy Butler III questionable to lead weary Warriors in return to Miami

Deadspin | Jimmy Butler III questionable to lead weary Warriors in return to Miami

Nov 18, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) goes to the basket against Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) and guard Desmond Bane (3) during the second half at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Jimmy Butler III’s return to his old home for a second annual reunion Wednesday night is not guaranteed as the marquee attraction is listed as questionable when the Golden State Warriors close out a grueling road trip against the host Miami Heat.

Butler, who is dealing with a right low back strain, began a two-night Florida tour with a season-best, 33-point effort in Golden State’s 121-113 loss at Orlando on Tuesday, playing 38 of the game’s 48 minutes.

Stephen Curry went 34 minutes to get 34 points and Draymond Green put in 31 minutes on a 12-point night, after which Warriors coach Steve Kerr did not disclose which of his veterans might get rested on the final stop of a nine-day, six-game marathon.

Curry was ruled out on Wednesday afternoon because of right ankle soreness after he tweaked it on Tuesday after initially hurting the ankle last Friday against the San Antonio Spurs. Green and teammate Buddy Hield are questionable due to illness.

Al Horford, who put in 27 minutes against the Heat, is sidelined for management of a left toe injury. Jonathan Kuminga will sit out his fourth straight game with bilateral knee soreness. Kerr had assured who plays and who rests will be a collaborative decision among coaches, players and training staff leading up to game time in Miami.

After the Tuesday loss, which dropped Golden State to 3-2 on the trip, Kerr spoke as if the trip were over.

“I thought we got a lot better on this trip,” he said. “Five games and no practices. I thought we saw our team come together over the last week, and I’m excited about that.

“I really like our team a lot. We’re going to be really good. We’ve just got to keep plugging away.”

After playing five full seasons and part of a sixth for the Heat, Butler was dealt to Golden State in February. Six weeks later, he returned to Miami — without star sidekick Curry — and was held to 11 points in a 112-86 defeat.

Despite averaging 32.7 minutes for Golden State last season, up from 30.6 earlier in the campaign for the Heat, Butler got just one game off amid the 30 he played for the Warriors in 2024-25.

Now 36 years old, he has been rested once already this season, that coming in the second game of a back-to-back at Sacramento after he’d sat out the second half the night before against the Phoenix Suns with a sore back.

Horford was held out of the Phoenix game in that sequence and has yet to play both games of a back-to-back this season. Curry and Green were given the night off in Sacramento, joining Butler in watching a 121-116 loss.

The Heat, meanwhile, will be playing for just the third time in the past week. They are coming off a split in a home-and-home series with the Knicks, winning the rematch 115-113 on Monday after falling 140-132 in New York three nights earlier.

Miami has played without Bam Adebayo (sprained left big toe) for the past six games, while Tyler Herro has yet to make his season debut after undergoing surgery on his left ankle in September.

Herro returned to practice over the weekend and said he hopes to be back in action later in the week but has been ruled out for Wednesday. Adebayo, officially listed as questionable for Wednesday, awaits a green light that could come against the Warriors.

“You see both sides,” Adebayo said about the team’s conservative approach. “Some of it, obviously, you feel like you can help. And then the other side, you want to be fully healthy. That’s when you turn to the head coach and the training staff, because they both know I’ll go out there and play regardless. So they got to save me from myself.”

–Field Level Media

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When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.

The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.

The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.

That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.

On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.

Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.

But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.

I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.

One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.

In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.

There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.

I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.

Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making">Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction is 25 years in the making  When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.  #Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making

Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.

TOSS

Tiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.

PLAYING XIs

Nellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky Bhasker

Tiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T Natarajan

Published on Aug 09, 2026

#TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings">TNPL 2026 Live: All-round batting display propels Nellai Royal Kings to 206/8  Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.TOSSTiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.PLAYING XIsNellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky BhaskerTiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T NatarajanPublished on Aug 09, 2026  #TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings

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