Jimmy Butler, the Warriors’ star, fell hard late in the first quarter and suffered a pelvic injury, forcing him to miss Game 2 against the Rockets on Wednesday.
Jimmy Butler is set to have an MRI in San Francisco on Thursday.
Losing Butler after eight minutes was a shattering blow for the Warriors, who lost 109-94 as Houston tied the series at one.
“Feel terrible for Jimmy Butler,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated. “Hopefully, he’s okay. “We’ll see.”
Jimmy Butler will have two days off before Game 3 between the Warriors and Rockets at Chase Center on Saturday night. Kerr was asked if Jonathan Kuminga could be a starter if Butler cannot play. Kuminga had dropped out of the rotation at the close of the regular season, but he played 26 minutes and scored 11 points in the Game 2 loss.
“I mean, if Jimmy’s out, we have to rethink everything,” Mr. Kerr said. “Like rotations, who starts, the best combinations, and all that stuff.”
With 2:28 remaining in the first quarter, Jimmy Butler went up high to recover a defensive rebound off Amen Thompson’s missed basket, but Thompson flew into him and undercut him. Butler crashed down on his tailbone and immediately appeared to be in pain. Thompson, who was fighting with Draymond Green for rebounding position before colliding with Jimmy Butler, was down briefly before rising.
Jimmy Butler remained in the game momentarily, making one of two free throws, but was called out with 1:51 remaining and the Warriors trailing 24-16. He visibly struggled to move.
He advanced with caution toward the locker room. The Warriors decided in the second quarter that Butler would not return for the game.
Green mentioned talking to Jimmy Butler after the game, and Jimmy Butler said he would be fine.
“Jimmy’s only going to tell you he feels good,” Green said. “So we will see. He has given me zero reasons not to believe anything he says. I believe him.”
It would be crushing for the Golden State Warriors’ sake if he had to take any extra time off. The Warriors’ record standing at 25-8, with the addition of regular-season and postseason games, denotes a significant change since Butler’s Feb. 8 debut in Chicago.
Butler’s influence has been felt throughout the franchise, reviving Stephen Curry’s gameplay. Butler’s presence means less scoring for Curry, which is good, and strong stabilization during crucial non-Curry minutes for Kerr. Jimmy Butler has also helped Green boost Golden State’s defense ahead of the league, placing them first for defense since Butler’s debut with the Warriors.
And Jimmy Butler remembered to throttle it a little higher to “Playoff Jimmy” after his 30-point and nine-assist performance in the regular season finale overtime loss to the Clippers; he scored 38 points with seven rebounds and six assists during the play in a game against Memphis, and then over the weekend Jimmy Butler had a 25 point 7 rebound six assist and five steal game to help Golden State take Game 1 on the road.
“I’ve had a couple of those times,” said Curry, noticing how those falls to a tight pelvis result in hairline fractures around the region. “And you know appraisal. It depends on how bad it was. I do not know what the level of Butler’s injury is, but it sure altered the pace of our front court.”
Warriors starting guard Brandin Podziemski has also been sick and restricted to only 14 minutes. He gets an IV at halftime and eats something not too pleasant to the stomach. Kerr suggests that Podziemski was ill with food poisoning. He skimped on six second-half minutes and finished the game zero from five.
The Warriors return from the road with a winning record for the series. For now, though, they must sit back and wait for Butler’s MRI results.
“Fingers crossed, Jimmy will be ready to suit up,” said Kerr. “If not, then it’s time to consider all our alternatives.”
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