MIAMI — Heat star Jimmy Butler’s status for this weekend’s Game 3 showdown with the New York Knicks is still undetermined, and coach Erik Spoelstra said there was no update on Thursday.

“When we find out how he’s feeling on Saturday, we’ll let you know,”  he said.

However, some of Butler’s teammates expressed optimism that he could return from his sprained right ankle for Saturday afternoon’s game.

“As a competitor, and a guy that knows how competitive he is, I would be optimistic,” guard Kyle Lowry said. “But who knows, honestly? We’ve got to go day-by-day with Jimmy, so we’ll see what happens on Saturday at 3:30.”

Butler did not play in Game 2, and Miami lost 111-105. The veteran small forward is arguably the biggest reason the Heat advanced past the top-seeded Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. He has averaged 35.5 points in Miami’s first six playoff games this year, along with 6.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.

“Every time I’ve seen him since it happened, he’s been getting treatment,” forward Kevin Love said. “I know he wishes he could’ve played the other night. He’s one of those guys you had to lock the hotel room, I don’t know, tie him up to the bed to make sure he didn’t get out. … We’ll see. He’s very strong-willed, has a very strong mind. He’s the ultimate competitor in this league, and I know that — especially being home and playing in front of our fans — that he’s going to want to come out and have a big showing.

“We’ll see. I don’t know where he’s at, but I think it’s a good sign that he’s not limping too much and he seems to be getting treatment around the clock.”

Strus healthy for Game 3

Heat forward Max Strus had to leave the second half of Miami’s Game 2 loss with a lower back bruise,  though he later returned to the court.

On Thursday, Strus said he was good to go for Game 3.

“I’m good,” Strus said. “Nothing’s wrong with me.”

Strus has averaged 8.1 points, three rebounds and one assist in seven playoff games.

Heat ignore boisterous Knicks fans

New York sports teams have a large contingent of fans in South Florida, and they don’t often get to watch their teams play postseason games in South Florida, so the Knicks will likely have numerous supporters in the Kaseya Center for Games 3 and 4 of the series.

But a potential abundance of New Yorkers does not faze the Heat.

“Obviously, they carry a big fan base wherever they go and obviously, just through the history with the organization,” forward Caleb Martin said. “It’s always going to be a great game when they’re involved. … We’ve got plenty of fans, obviously, here, so we’re not really worried about that.”

Not including this postseason’s Heat-Knicks series, New York-based teams have played postseason games in South Florida five times since 2000: the Knicks and Heat faced each other in the playoffs twice, the Brooklyn Nets and Heat played once and the NHL’s New York Islanders and the Florida Panthers played each other once (not including a COVID-year playoff round held in Toronto).

The key, Strus said, is to not give opposing fans anything to celebrate.

“Yeah, we’ve heard it a little it,” Strus said. “But that’s on us to play better and not let them have anything to cheer about.”