Golden State Warriors superstar Jimmy Butler is likely to miss Game 3 of their first-round playoff matchup with the Houston Rockets. He’s battling a deep glute muscle contusion that’s placed him in grave danger. In a game a few weeks ago, Butler lunged after a contested defensive board. Sadly, he was undercut by Houston’s Amen Thompson, leading to the injury. Butler crashed down on his tailbone, noticeably grimacing in pain right away.
After the freak accident, Butler had an MRI that showed no structural damage. His availability for this week’s game is in serious doubt. The Warriors will be monitoring how his body responds to treatment over the next 48 hours. Then, they will choose a final design to pursue.
Butler’s influence was clearly lacking in Game 2, as the Warriors lost by a score of 109-94 to the Rockets. The team rallied to even the series with a victory in Game 1. Butler had a strong game with 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists while making five steals. Since joining the Warriors on February 8, Butler has been a pivotal player, helping the team achieve a 25-9 record. His absence has exposed the lack of offensive punch outside of Stephen Curry, especially during those critical non-Curry minutes.
With Butler likely out for the series, Steve Kerr, Golden State’s head coach, said they would have to adjust their strategy.
“I mean if Jimmy’s out, we have to rethink everything, like rotations, who starts and the best combinations and all that stuff.” – Steve Kerr
The series between Golden State and Houston is tied 1-1 with the Warriors preparing to host the Rockets Saturday at Chase Center. They are relying on Butler to lead the way and give a championship-caliber performance. He’s elevated his play to “Playoff Jimmy” levels to boot! In a thrilling recent play-in win over Memphis, he went for 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry was among those who expressed hope on Butler’s injury status, citing his own experience with such contusions.
“The last one I had was just a contusion and that is just a pain tolerance thing. Hopefully it’s just a contusion; you could play through that eventually.” – Stephen Curry
If Butler can’t go, then rookie Jonathan Kuminga would likely assume a bigger role in the starting lineup. As the Warriors prepare for their next game, they remain optimistic about Butler’s recovery and potential impact on the series.
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