Jimmy Butler bounces back from ankle sprain with 28 in Heat win - ESPN

MIAMI — With 2:17 remaining in Game 3, Jimmy Butler was fouled and headed to the line for a pair of free throws.

As Butler stepped up to the charity stripe, he took a moment to catch his breath and put his hands on his knees. The Kaseya Center crowd slowly rose to their feet to cheer for their MVP — the one who had just returned to lead the Miami Heat to a dominant 105-86 victory on Saturday over the New York Knicks to take a 2-1 series lead.

Butler finished with a game-high 28 points after missing Game 2 with a sprained right ankle.

«I feel alright,» Butler said when asked how he was doing and what it took to get ready for Game 3. «A lot of recovery and making sure that I can move went into it for sure. I got a great team behind me that people don't see that are always there for me and making sure I have everything I need while I'm off the floor to recover.»

There was a brief moment where the Heat fans had to hold their collective breaths late in the third quarter. Butler made contact with the stanchion and was a little hobbled going back up the court.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told ESPN's Malika Andrews during the on-court interview between the third and fourth quarter that Butler had injured his thigh but postgame said Butler was fine.

«I probably shouldn't have said that,» Spoelstra said postgame. «He's fine. He's not even icing that part of it. It was one of those little stingers that you just need three plays and it wears off.»

After playing the entire third quarter, Butler didn't return to the game until 5:19 remaining. Miami held a 17-point lead entering the fourth and Butler came back in when the lead was at 14. Spoelstra said Butler could have come back sooner but the two were «on the same page» about when to