MIAMI — Forward Jimmy Butler on Wednesday was upgraded to questionable by the Miami Heat for Thursday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors at the start of a five-game trip, after missing the past three games with a calf strain.

The Heat, though, apparently will remain shorthanded nonetheless. Caleb Martin, who had been starting at power forward, was listed as doubtful with the sprained right ankle that sidelined him in the first quarter of Monday night’s victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, and guard Josh Richardson was listed as doubtful with the lower-back discomfort that had him out of that Christmas night victory over the 76ers.

In addition, the Heat listed as questionable for Thursday night’s game guard Duncan Robinson, due to a sprained left ankle, and guard Kyle Lowry, due to soreness. The last time Lowry had such a listing, he was held out of the Dec. 18 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Off the injury report was forward Haywood Highsmith, who missed Monday’s game due to the flu.

Sidelined for the balance of the season is guard Dru Smith, who suffered a third-degree sprain of the ACL in his right knee on Nov. 22 and is scheduled for surgery Friday.

Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. had started in place of Butler, and it’s possible he next starts in place of Martin, if needed. Another replacement possibility, should Martin remain sidelined, would be Highsmith, who previously had started at power forward before being sidelined by a back bruise.

“I’ll just listen to my body, be smart about it, too,” Martin said after sitting out Wednesday’s practice at Kaseya Center, “but also knowing if I can contribute whatever minutes I can, I’ll just do that, too.”

Martin worked only on the side during Wednesday’s practice. Butler and Richardson were partial participants, with Highsmith competing in the full session.

“Just doing more rehab work, working it, getting on the table, stuff like that,” Martin said.

Highsmith said he began to feel ill at Friday night’s home victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

“I had it since the last game,” he said. “But the back is good, the back has been good. But this sickness came out of nowhere.”

Coach Erik Spoelstra said the Heat’s two-way players would remain with the team at the start of the trip as the injury situation is sorted, with a shift to the G League Sioux Falls Skyforce then possible for Jamal Cain, Cole Swider and RJ Hampton, possibly as well as 2022 first-round pick Nikola Jovic.

As for again possibly being shorthanded, Spoelstra called it just another challenge to overcome.

“You still can find ways to win while you’re building continuity, while you’re dealing with lineup changes and guys in and out of the rotation,” he said. “It’s a talent to learn how to win despite circumstances. We’re getting a little bit better with that.”

Respect in place

Even with Draymond Green under indefinite suspension by the NBA for violent acts on the court, and even with the Warriors at .500, the Heat are approaching Thursday night with ample respect for championship components such as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

“Their style of play still is there, it’s evident,” Spoelstra said. “They still play an incredibly unique style.”

Curry has had eight career games with at least 30 points against the Heat, including a 33-point game last season.

“It doesn’t matter what type of winning streak or losing streak the other team is on,” Martin said. “They’ve got a winning history and you always have to respect those guys with that type of talent and that kind of winning history, no matter what.”