Jimmy Butler injury update: Will Miami Heat star be ruled out of NBA Playoffs?

Jimmy Butler went down with a right knee injury toward the end of the first quarter. He played through the injury but was in visible pain for the rest of the game. He finished with 19 points, four rebounds and five assists in the Miami Heat's 105-104 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Play-In Tournament.

The Heat will need to beat the Chicago Bulls on Friday if they want to earn the No. 8 seed for the second year in a row. However, will Butler be ruled out of the game and the rest of the playoffs if the Heat qualify?

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Heat has ruled Butler out for multiple weeks due to a right MCL injury. It remains unclear what kind of injury the Miami star suffered, but his heart was on full display on Wednesday. He played three quarters with a bad knee, and the Heat were in the game until the final buzzer.

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What happened to Jimmy Butler?

Jimmy Butler suffered the right knee injury with less than five seconds left in the first quarter of the Miami Heat's NBA Play-In Tournament game against the Philadelphia 76ers. He received an outlet pass from Kevin Love and was on his way to an easy two points to end the quarter.

However, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Buddy Hield caught up with him to alter his shot. Jimmy Butler faked and got Oubre in the air before trying to put the ball in hoop. Oubre lost his balance and came down on Butler's right foot, which might have hyperextended the latter's knee.

"Jimmy Buckets" quickly grabbed his right knee and was wincing in pain. Heat trainers checked on him immediately with coach Erik Spoelstra, vice president Alonzo Mourning and president Pat Riley looking concerned for their star player.

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Erik Spoelstra sends message after loss to Philadelphia 76ers

The Miami Heat will play the gritty Chicago Bulls for an opportunity for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round matchup with the Boston Celtics. The Heat are going to be without Jimmy Butler, who was ruled out for multiple weeks due to a right knee injury.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after their 105-104 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers that they are going to regroup and be ready for the Bulls. It's the next man up mentality for the resilient Heat, who went to the NBA Finals last season as the eighth seed.

"We will do this the hard way," Spoelstra said. "That has to be the path right now.

"We're going to rest up, treat up, rally around each other up, get ready for Friday. Again, embrace these competitive games. It will be competitive in front of our home fans."