Warriors’ Butler Unlikely for Game 3 with Deep Glute Muscle Contusion
Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler is facing a serious threat of missing Game 3 against the Houston Rockets with a deep glute muscle contusion, according to sources close to the team. The injury was sustained during Game 2 on Wednesday night, when Butler took a scary fall in the first quarter and was subsequently ruled out with a pelvis contusion.
An MRI scan revealed no structural damage, providing some relief for the Warriors. However, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, league sources indicate that Butler’s participation in Game 3 is uncertain. The Warriors have two days off before hosting the Rockets on Saturday at Chase Center, with the series currently tied at 1-1.
Butler will use the time before the 5:30 p.m. PST tipoff to do everything he can to play. His return will likely be determined by how his body responds to treatment in the next two days. As the source notes, "Butler will be working tirelessly to get back on the court, but it’s unclear at this point whether he’ll be able to participate in Game 3."
The incident occurred when Butler went up high to grab a defensive rebound off Houston’s Amen Thompson’s missed shot. Thompson undercut Butler, causing him to come crashing down on his tailbone area. Butler was visibly in immediate pain and was later ruled out in the second quarter with a pelvis contusion.
The Warriors struggled without Butler in Game 2, ultimately losing 109-94 to the Rockets. If Butler is unable to play in Game 3, it will be a significant blow to the team. Since joining the Warriors on February 8, Butler has been instrumental in turning the team around, with a 25-9 record, including the regular season, play-in, and postseason.
As ESPN reports, Butler has been the star that Stephen Curry has needed beside him to alleviate the offensive burden while also managing the crucial non-Curry minutes. He has also helped Draymond Green lift the Warriors’ defense to first in the league. Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the importance of Butler, saying, "I mean if Jimmy’s out, we have to rethink everything. Like rotations, who starts and the best combinations and all that stuff."
In the event of Butler’s absence, Jonathan Kuminga could be an option for a bigger role. Kuminga played 26 minutes and scored 11 points but shot 4-for-12 from the field in his first game of the postseason. Kuminga had fallen out of the rotation since the regular-season finale.
Butler has elevated his game to "Playoff Jimmy" form since the regular-season finale, with impressive performances in recent games. In an overtime loss to the Clippers, he had 30 points and nine assists. In a play-in win over Memphis, he scored 38 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. In Game 1 against the Rockets, Butler poured in 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals.
Curry, who has dealt with tailbone injuries in the past, including a pelvic contusion on March 20, offered some insight into the potential severity of Butler’s injury. "The last one I had was just a contusion and that is just a pain tolerance thing," Curry said. "Hopefully it’s just a contusion, you could play through that eventually."
As the Warriors prepare for Game 3, they will be anxiously waiting to see if Butler can make a recovery. With the series tied and the momentum shifting, the team’s chances of advancing to the next round may depend on Butler’s availability.
The information for this article was provided by ESPN’s Shams Charania, as reported in the article "Warriors’ Butler unlikely for Game 3 with deep glute muscle contusion" on ESPN.com.
