Jimmy Butler was outstanding in the sixth game against the Boston Celtics, as the Miami Heat avoided elimination with 47 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Although Butler was humble when describing his performance, Heat baseman Kyle Lowry did not hold back, and his honesty may cost him.
“It was f —– g amazing,” Lowry said of Butler’s game after the game.
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, laughter erupted in the media and Lowry realized his mistake. The six-time NBA All-Star quickly apologized for his language.
“My bad,” Lowry said. “Don’t get me wrong, NBA. It was a mistake, it was really a mistake. I promise.”
Butler was sitting next to Lowry as the situation unfolded, and at first tried to keep a serious face. Before Lowry could defend his case, however, Butler joked.
“I was going to say you’re definitely going to be fined,” Butler said. “Fine him. You’ll fine me all the time. Fine him.”
Then Lowry looked at Butler, turned to the microphone, and replied, “Please don’t do that” before continuing to praise his teammate’s game.
Although the moment was amusing, Butler’s words do have some truth. Butler received nine technical fouls this season, and each received at least a $ 2,000 fine. Last November, Butler was fined $ 30,000 for “trying to escalate an altercation” and “failing to comply with NBA security.” And in February, he failed to comply with media obligations during the NBA All-Star weekend, causing a $ 25,000 fine.
Butler’s most recent fine came in April, and he didn’t even play; the four-time All-NBA selection was sidelined with a knee injury during the fifth game of the Heat’s first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. Towards the end of the first half, Max Strus hit a triple to extend Miami’s lead, and Butler celebrated on the bench with a push. This was considered an obscene gesture by the NBA, so he was fined $ 15,000. The Heat also received a $ 15,000 fine for sharing a GIF of the celebration on social media.
The Heat are still looking for a ticket to the NBA Finals, and can get one with a win in Sunday’s game 7. The match will take place in Miami and is scheduled for 7:30 pm ET on ESPN and fuboTV (try it for free). ).