Miami Heat wing Jimmy Butler is expected to miss a few weeks due to a sprained MCL. Butler was injured during the Heat's Play-In Tournament loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

Butler was able to complete the game, but was visibly hampered. He limped off at the end of the game and was spotted with a visible limp as he left the arena.

The Heat will host the Chicago Bulls in the final Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament game on Friday. The winner advances to play the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, beginning on Sunday afternoon.

Alex Caruso has a "significant" left ankle sprain, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Caruso is doubtful for the Bulls' play-in tournament game against the Heat on Friday.

Caruso suffered the injury when Andre Drummond stepped on his foot during Wednesday night's win over the Hawks.

Reed Sheppard has announced he will leave Kentucky to enter the 2024 NBA draft. Sheppard is expected to be a lottery pick.

Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 28.9 minutes in his freshman season at Kentucky. 

The Golden State Warriors are expected to evaluate their trade options on Andrew Wiggins this offseason, sources tell Logan Murdock of The Ringer. 

The Warriors signed Wiggins to a four-year, $109 million extension in 2022, but he hasn't regained the form that arguably made him their second most important player when they won the title that year.

Wiggins missed time tending to a personal matter in each of the past two seasons. 

Wiggins has also been made somewhat redundant due to the emergence of Jonathan Kuminga. 

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that forward Zion Williamson has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain.

An MRI taken this morning confirmed the injury. Williamson will be re-examined in approximately two weeks.

The Pelicans will play the Sacramento Kings on Friday for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

What happened in two snapshots in the NBA Play-In on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has agreed on a new lucrative, multiyear contract extension with Converse. Gilgeous-Alexander will also be Creative Director of Converse Basketball with a signature shoe releasing in 2025.

Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to be a top-3 finisher in MVP voting this season after guiding the Oklahoma City Thunder to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Gilgeous-Alexander first signed with Converse in 2020.

Tuesday night's Play-In Tournament game between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings averaged 4.05 million viewers across TNT and truTV.

It is the second most-watched game in the history of the Play-In Tournament.

The Lakers' win over the Pelicans earlier in the night averaged 3.91 million viewers.

The two games are the fourth and sixth most-watched of this season. 

Damian Lillard returned to practice on Wednesday after missing Tuesday's practice with a sore left adductor.

Lillard missed last Friday's regular season game with the injury.

Doc Rivers said he expected Lillard to continue to practice on Friday.

"I'm assuming. I would be surprised [if he doesn't practice]. I'll put it that way," said Rivers.

The Bucks will already be without Giannis Antetokounmpo at the start of their series against the Pacers.

Ty Lue was not sure whether Kawhi Leonard would be available to play in Game 1 against the Dallas Mavericks.

"We just take it day by day. He's progressing. He's getting better. We don't have a timetable," said Lue.

Leonard did not participate in any 5-on-5 drills on Tuesday.

Leonard missed the last eight games of the regular season due to inflammation in his right knee.

Lue added that he was preparing his game plan to include Leonard.

"I'm preparing for him, to have him on the court," added Lue.