Celtics Heat Basketball

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) talks t0 Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) during the second half of Game 3 of the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals, Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

NEW YORK (AP) — Miami's Jimmy Butler was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for not participating in required media availability after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Butler did not talk to reporters following the Heat's 128-102 victory on Sunday that gave them a 3-0 lead over the Boston Celtics. The Heat can win the series and advance to the NBA Finals with a victory Tuesday night.

NBA TV, which has been televising the postgame press conferences, teased that Butler would be coming to the podium during its coverage, but the star forward never appeared. Gabe Vincent, Bam Adebayo and Caleb Martin instead followed coach Erik Spoelstra.

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