After missing seven games with a suspension that followed questions concerning his effort and his public trade request, Jimmy Butler returned to a Heat team that might have expected fireworks.

Jamal Murray scored 30 points, Nikola Jokic extended his NBA lead with his 17th triple-double of the season and the Denver Nuggets spoiled Jimmy Butler’s return by beating the Miami Heat 133-113 on Friday night.

With the Jimmy Butler situation still uncomfortable and unresolved, the Memphis Grizzlies are "lurking" and have "been in contact" with the Miami Heat, according to ESPN's Tim Bon

Bernie Lee, Butler’s agent, posted a press release on X akin to Michael Jordan’s famous “I’m back” statement, which ended his first NBA retirement in 1995. Leaning into the Jordan theme — or troll — Butler posted photos on his Instagram story wearing the Jordan No. 45 Bulls uniform.

Though there may still be some negotiating distance between the parties, the stars seem to be aligning for (or at least toward) the Miami Heat trading

Jimmy Butler continues to loom large over the NBA trade deadline. Here is the latest intel and rumors surrounding possible deals.

Jun 12, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) shoots against Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the third quarter of game five of the 2023 NBA Finals ...

The Phoenix Suns want Jimmy Butler, but it's a pipe dream. These teams should be thought of more as destinations for the disgruntled Miami Heat All-Star.

Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat were a match made in heaven. But the same factors that made that so meant there was always an expiration date on this seemingly perfect marriage. A public standoff was the only way it could end.

In big-time sports, all sorts of sins can be overlooked in the name of talent. Assault and battery? Domestic abuse? Weapons charges? If you can run fast enough or jump high enough, those are issues a forgiving franchise can massage into minor infractions. What about the crime of being a serial pain in the ass? It depends.

The Denver Nuggets are 28-19 after three straight losses on their current five-game road trip. Currently sitting at fourth place in the Western Conference, the Nuggets have mostly bounced back from an inconsistent start to the season, though weaknesses on defense continue to show.

Butler was informed at shootaround that he would come off the bench behind Haywood Highsmith in this game, which prompted Butler to walk out of shootaround. From there, the Heat suspended Butler “indefinitely,” a story broken by Shams Charania of The Athletic and since confirmed by the team.