Miami Heat All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler will not play in Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks because of a sore right foot.
It is the second straight game Butler has missed.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said prior to Thursday's game that Butler has had both an MRI and an X-ray on the foot to try to determine the severity of the injury.
"We've done all of that," Spoelstra said on a video conference call. "And at this point it's rest and recovery."
Spoelstra and the Heat are hopeful that the rest will get their player back on track prior to the start of the playoffs.
"His foot is sore," Spoelstra said of Butler. "We want to make sure that he's feeling like he did even a week ago."
Veteran guard Goran Dragic also will miss Thursday's game because of a left ankle sprain suffered in Tuesday's win over the Boston Celtics. Spoelstra sounds confident that Dragic will be back on the floor soon.
"[He's] moving around a lot better," Spoelstra said. "Had a really good day [Wednesday] and today of treatment." The Heat come into Thursday's game in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, two games behind the Celtics.
