Report: Warriors’ Jimmy Butler has deep glute contusion, status for Game 3 in jeopardy
The Golden State Warriors could be without star forward Jimmy Butler as they return home for Game 3.
The Golden State Warriors could be without star forward Jimmy Butler as they return home for Game 3.
Butler was diagnosed with a deep glute muscle contusion after leaving Golden State’s Game 2 loss to the Houston Rockets early, which has put his status for Game 3 in “serious jeopardy,” according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Charania reported that the diagnosis was the “best case” scenario because an MRI showed that Butler avoided any fracture or structural damage.
Butler was injured when Amen Thompson was pushed into his legs as he jumped to try and grab a rebound. Both players crashed to the court in the collision, but Butler stayed down longer than Thompson.
He eventually got up and slowly walked to the other end of the court to shoot free throws. Butler made 1 of 2 and was soon taken out of the game and immediately headed to the locker room.
Butler, who had three points and two rebounds before leaving, had 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists in Golden State’s 95-85 win in Game 1.
Golden State’s prized trade deadline addition averaged 17.9 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds over 30 games with the Warriors in the regular season, helping his new team make a run into the post-season as the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed.
Game 3 goes Saturday from Chase Center in San Francisco with the series knotted at 1-1.
— With files from the Associated Press
