Butler drops 30 in return from 10-game absence due to safety protocols

After a 10-game absence due to health and safety protocols, Jimmy Butler finally returned to the Miami Heat lineup for Saturday's 105-104 win over the Sacramento Kings.

"He's worked extremely hard behind the scenes," head coach Erik Spoelstra said pregame, adding Butler wouldn't be held to a minutes restriction in his long-awaited return.

Butler finished with a season-high 30 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the floor and 14-of-16 from the foul line, to go along with eight assists, seven rebounds, and zero turnovers.

Additionally, Andre Iguodala was also back in the lineup after missing the Heat's last game with a neck injury. The veteran forward finished with one point, six rebounds, six assists, and a steal in 26 minutes of action off the bench.

Butler endured a difficult start to the season before his lengthy layoff, averaging just 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game through his first six appearances. He also missed all seven of his shots from beyond the 3-point arc.

The Heat have struggled overall following their run to the 2020 Finals. Even after Saturday's win, Miami's 7-12 record puts them in 13th place in the Eastern Conference. However, the team is now just 1.5 games behind the eighth-seeded New York Knicks.