MIAMI — A worst-case scenario turned into reality for the Miami Heat on Thursday, when testing revealed a sprained MCL in Jimmy Butler’s right knee that the team said will have the team’s leading man out “several weeks.”

That prognosis comes with the Heat’s season on the line in Friday night’s winner-take-all play-in game against the Chicago Bulls.

Wednesday night, as he sat by his locker while scanning a quiet room in Philadelphia, Butler found himself in a single moment talking both about himself and his team.

“It’s not a good feeling. I can tell you that,” he said.

The comment was about the knee strain sustained when he took the brunt of the body weight of 76ers forward Kelly Oubre during a first-quarter collision. But he also could have been talking about the Heat’s situation, to either advance Friday to the best-of-seven first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the top-seeded Boston Celtics or fall to the ignominy of the NBA draft lottery.

In many ways, the Heat have become the embodiment of a team limping to a possible finish line.

– The news with Butler came after a Thursday MRI. Even if the Heat win Friday, the timetable would have Butler out through the first round and beyond.

– Guard Terry Rozier, added in January to provide the type of offensive boost often lacking in Wednesday night’s 105-104 loss at Well Fargo Center, also was ruled out for Friday’s game, due to ongoing back spasms.

– Guard Duncan Robinson was listed as available for Wednesday night, but was held out for the fifth consecutive game due to left facet syndrome, the ongoing back issue that has sidelined him for 10 of the past 15 games. He is listed as probable for Friday.

Rozier remains an unknown, having last played in a dreary April 7 road loss to the Indiana Pacers that helped drop the Heat into this desperation of the play-in round, limited to four points that night.

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