Jimmy Butler Will Not Play Wednesday Against Orlando Magic

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler out with a strained calf Wednesday against Orlando Magic

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler will not play Wednesday against the Orlando Magic.

The Heat have ruled him out because of a strained calf injury.

Here’s the game preview:

Game time: 7 p.m., ET

Where: Amway Center

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Betting line: Heat +5

  VITALS: The Heat and Magic meet for the first of four matchups this season. Last season, Miami won the series, 3-1, and has won eight of the last 10 overall against Orlando. The Heat are 76-58 all-time versus the Magic during the regular season, including 42-24 in home games and 34-34 in road games. The Heat are coming off Monday’s loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

PROJECTED STARTERS

HEAT

G Duncan Robinson

G Tyler Herro

C Bam Adebayo

F Haywood Highsmith

F Caleb Martin

MAGIC

F Franz Wagner

F Paolo Banchero

C Goga Bitadze

G Anthony Black

G Jalen Suggs

INJUY REPORT

HEAT

Dru Smith: Out – Right Achilles 3rd Degree Sprain

QUOTABLE

Heat forward Jimmy Butler on Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro returning to lineup: “I don’t want to jinx anything. I just want guys to get back and we all hoop together. That’s all I’m going to say because I don’t want to jinx it.”

Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat, a Fan Nation channel for Sports Illustrated. He has covered the NBA since 2010.