Heat's Butler plans on playing vs. Pacers

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is on track to return Monday against the Indiana Pacers, he told Marc Stein of The New York Times.

The 6-foot-7 forward has missed the Heat's past three games due to a foot injury.

Butler's having a solid debut season in South Beach, averaging a team-high 20.2 points and recording career highs in rebounds (6.6) and assists (6.1) per contest.

Monday's matchup is the first of two seeding games between the two clubs, as well as a potential first-round playoff preview. The showdown will also be the first meeting since Butler and Pacers forward T.J. Warren got into an altercation during a January affair.