Is Jimmy Butler playing tonight against the Detroit Pistons? A look at Miami Heat star's availability for Emirates NBA Cup game (Nov. 12)   

The Miami Heat will be without the services of their superstar Jimmy Butler ahead of their Emirates NBA Cup opener against the Detroit Pistons at the Little Caesar's Arena on Tuesday (Nov. 12). The veteran forward continues to recover from his ankle sprain sustained during the skirmish against the Denver Nuggets last week.

Butler turned both ankles halfway into the first quarter when he battled Jamal Murray. He exited the game right after he was subbed out. The All-Star was done for the night as the Heat announced that he wouldn't return to take the floor. The latest report from the official NBA site sees him ruled out of their NBA Cup clash against the Pistons.

The report was also confirmed by Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderan adding that Jimmy Butler will be on the sidelines for the marquee clash. The Heat will miss their key cog as he was averaging 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 47.8% from the field and 15.4% from the 3-point range in eight appearances. This will be his second straight missed game this season.

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Jimmy Butler on the importance of the Emirates NBA Cup: "You need to be playing your absolutely best basketball"

Jimmy Butler was one of the key names grabbing headlines with the release of Netflix's NBA docuseries 'Starting 5'. One of the episodes sees the Miami Heat superstar detail why the In-Season Tournament was massive for all the teams:

"With the In-Season Tournament, you can definitely tell the difference. Every possession matters. You need to be playing your absolutely best basketball. Just like in the playoffs. If you win, good things happen."

The Heat were eliminated from knockout contention from the inaugural edition last season. They were placed in East Group B that included the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards, and the Charlotte Hornets. Butler and the Heat finished 2-2 as the Bucks and Knicks progressed to the next round.

The Heat play the Pistons first as part of their NBA Cup schedule. They play the Indiana Pacers at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Nov. 15. They host the Bucks in their first home group stage game on Nov. 26. Miami will hope to have Jimmy Butler back in their fold before the Pacers clash. The Heat are 4-5 and placed seventh in the East in the regular-season standings.