Butler leaves Game 3 due to knee inflammation

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler exited Game 3 against the Boston Celtics and didn't return due to right knee inflammation, the team announced.

The injury isn't considered serious, and there's a strong possibility Butler won't miss Game 4, sources told Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said the 32-year-old won't require an MRI, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell.

Butler registered eight points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 20 first-half minutes. He entered Saturday averaging 35 points through the series' first two games.

The All-Star missed Game 5 of the Heat's first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks with the same injury.

Miami still won Saturday's contest 109-103 and took a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.