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.

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.

The waiting game continues for the Miami Heat when it comes to the sprained right ankle of forward Jimmy Butler, who remains out.