The Miami Heat are unhappy with Boston Celtics reserve guard Payton Pritchard over a defensive play Pritchard made against Heat star Jimmy Butler during the second quarter of Miami’s victory in Game 3 on Saturday.
Butler missed the second half of the game with right knee inflammation and is listed as questionable for Monday’s Game 4 though Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Butler is one of several players going through their normal gameday routine “with the intent to play.”
Spoelstra said Pritchard’s attempt to slow Butler “was not a basketball play. We’re not really sure why it was determined that was a basketball play or that was a legal play or that was a safe play.”
Nearing the midway point of the second quarter, Pritchard slipped while trying to defend Butler. As Butler dribbled toward the basket, Pritchard grabbed Butler’s right knee and took Butler’s right leg out from under him. Butler fell to the floor. Pritchard was called for a foul with 6:14 left in the quarter, and the play was not reviewed.
