MIAMI — As they went into Friday night’s winner-take-all play-in game against the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat paused to reflect on the perseverance of their leader.

While a sprained MCL in his right knee took Jimmy Butler out of Friday night’s showdown at Kaseya Center, it did not deter him from playing to the finish of Wednesday night’s play-in loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center, despite sustaining the injury late in the first quarter.

The fact that Butler played an additional 30:06 with an injury later diagnosed as one that would keep him out for weeks left teammates with considerable respect.

“I’ve had that,” Heat forward Caleb Martin said. “I’ve had that before. Knowing what I felt when I did, knowing that he played the extra minutes to finish out the game like that, JB’s a warrior.

“That’s why he’s the head of the snake here. He leads and we follow.”

Martin said even in the moment, even in a heartbreaking loss, it was appreciated.

“He knows,” Martin said, “how much we appreciate him doing that.”

Friday became the 23rd game missed this season by Butler, an absence accompanied by empathy.

“It’s just his competitive will, to be out there and play through an injury, just says how much he wants to be out there,” guard Tyler Herro said of an effort that included a Butler steal and fullcourt sprint for a running dunk late in that fourth quarter.

Butler was injured when attempting to score in the lane, his pump fake leading 76ers forward Kelly Oubre to land on his knee, with a foul called on the play. The play was reviewed for a possible flagrant action, but was deemed a common foul.

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