For the game, the Heat will be without their best player, as Jimmy Butler has been ruled out. Butler has missed each of the previous two games, so this will be his third straight out of the lineup. Via The Miami Heat on Thursday: "#MIAvsIND INJURY UPDATE: Jimmy Butler (ankle) has been ruled out of tomorrow night's game vs the Pacers.

Miami Heat All-Star guard Jimmy Butler has been ruled out of Friday's game against the Pacers with an ankle sprain. Obi Toppin is off the injury report.

Butler suffered the injury early in Miami's loss to the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 8, where he only played seven minutes, scoring two points, recording two assists, and collecting one rebound. So far this season, Butler has averaged 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field.

But the Heat’s margin for error continues to be even smaller than usual, with star Jimmy Butler set to miss his third straight game on Friday because of a sprained right ankle. Butler, who remains with the Heat in Indianapolis, sprained his ankle during Friday’s loss to the Nuggets in Denver.

The Brooklyn Nets are aiming for their third consecutive win against the Miami Heat tonight at the Kaseya Center in Miami. However, they have a litmus test to pass before they hit the road again. Sustaining a winning streak of six games,