Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler sustained a contusion to his pelvis and deep glute muscle after a hard fall during Wednesday`s Game 2 against the Houston Rockets. His status is listed as questionable for Saturday`s Game 3, the team announced Friday following an MRI performed on Thursday.
Speaking at Friday`s practice, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr indicated there`s “a chance” Butler could be available for the upcoming game.
“I`m relatively optimistic,” Kerr stated. “I mean, Jimmy is Jimmy. We know he`s willing to play through anything. So we`ll see. This is a day-to-day thing, for sure, and we`ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Kerr mentioned the coaching staff is preparing two different game plans: one that includes Butler and one that does not. While Butler was present at practice, Kerr noted he was “off to the side,” not participating actively.
The injury occurred in the first quarter of the Warriors` 109-94 loss in Houston. Butler fell awkwardly after being unintentionally undercut by Amen Thompson while going for a rebound.
Kerr drew a parallel between Butler`s injury and a similar fall Stephen Curry experienced in March, which sidelined Curry for two games. Kerr described Butler`s situation as “very similar,” characterizing it as a “pain-tolerance thing.”
The Warriors benefit from a favorable schedule, having two days off before Game 3 on Saturday, just as they did between Games 1 and 2. This extra time allows Butler crucial hours for rest and treatment.
Should Butler be unable to play in Game 3, or if his absence extends further (with Game 4 set for Monday), the Warriors face significant challenges. Their difficulties aren`t solely tied to the injury, however.
Even before Butler`s fall, Houston`s physicality on both offense and defense disrupted the Warriors` rhythm. The current playoff officiating seems to be permitting a higher degree of contact, enabling a team like Houston to play aggressively against the Warriors. While Golden State is tough, they may lack the explosive athleticism needed to consistently create space and drive effectively against such tight defensive pressure.
Butler is arguably the only player who can alleviate some of this defensive pressure. In the absence of another primary offensive threat, the defensive focus falls heavily on Curry, who often faces double and triple teams. While Curry is capable of extraordinary performances, overcoming Houston`s physically disruptive defense without Butler appears to be a formidable task.
The ideal scenario for the Warriors is Butler not only playing but performing effectively in Game 3. If that doesn`t happen and they fall behind 2-1, their hopes will rest on his ability to contribute in Game 4.
Jasper Hawthorne