Despite his MCL injury keeping him sidelined, Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat couldn’t resist a playful dig at his longtime rival, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, after the Heat tied the first-round playoff series 1-1 with a Game 2 victory. Butler posted a photoshopped image on Instagram, replacing Brown’s face with his own in a photo from last year’s playoffs, where Brown’s quote from a press conference after the Celtics fell behind the Heat 3-0 read, “Don’t let us get one.” Butler’s caption: “Feeling cute, might delete later. Sikeeeee I ain’t deleting (expletive).”
Butler’s post was a clear indication of his enjoyment after the Heat’s victory. Last year, the Celtics rallied with three straight wins in the Eastern Conference Finals to force a Game 7 back in Boston, but the Heat ultimately won 4-3. Butler’s injury, sustained in the Heat’s play-in tournament loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, has kept him out of action. He is joined on the sidelines by teammate Terry Rozier, who is dealing with a neck injury.
Despite these setbacks, the Heat managed to upset the heavily favored Celtics once again in Boston, tying the series at 1-1. The Celtics remain the favorites, but the Heat have proven to be a formidable opponent in the playoffs, extending the series to a best-of-five format. Games 3 and 4 will be played in Miami’s Kaseya Center, where the Heat will look to maintain their momentum. The Celtics, on the other hand, will be seeking redemption after their surprising Game 2 loss.
