Jimmy Butler hit the ground really hard Wednesday night in the Warriors’ second playoff game against the Rockets.
Amen Thompson’s undercut left Butler unable to brace for the landing, and so he crushed his back against the hardwood.
Butler exited the game and was soon ruled out, pushing the focus forward onto when Butler might be back.
Here’s the latest news on Butler’s injury and possible return.
How long is Jimmy Butler out?
Jimmy Butler is out through the end of Game 2 and could miss Game 3, as well, depending on the severity of his injury.
The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reports the following:
“MRI expected (Wednesday) for Jimmy Butler, per source. Warriors have dealt with a couple of these pelvic contusions recently after similar falls from Steph Curry and Jonathan Kuminga. Curry missed two games. Kuminga missed one. Then it became a pain management issue.”
That’s both encouraging and discouraging.
One key variable here is that it’s the postseason. Some injuries that might keep Butler out of a game in the regular season probably wouldn’t in the playoffs.
It’ll depend on Thursday’s MRI, of course, but then it’s a safe bet to expect Butler to at least be trying to get back for Game 3.
If not, Game 4 would turn into a possible must-win for Golden State, and Butler surely wouldn’t miss that, too.
After Game 2, Steve Kerr summed the situation up like this: “Hopefully he’s OK… Jimmy always says he’s going to be fine. We have to see the MRI.”
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Warriors-Rockets series schedule
After Wednesday night’s Game 2, the rest of the series breaks down like this:
- Game 3: Sat., April 26, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 4: Mon., April 28, 10 p.m. ET
- Game 5: Wed., April 30, TBD
- Game 6: Fri., May 2, TBD
- Game 7: Sun., May 4, TBD
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