In an unfortunate turn of events, Jimmy Butler went down during Game 2 between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. While grabbing a rebound, he was undercut by Rockets forward Amen Thompson, causing him to crash to the ground.
The move caused instant panic, especially as he remains integral to the team’s playoff run.
Butler was ruled out of the remainder of Game 2 with a pelvic contusion due to the hard fall, but with it being the playoffs, one would imagine that Butler wouldn’t want to sit out of the series for too long.
With Game 3 a few days away and the series currently tied at 1-1, the question now turns to the health of Butler moving forward. Will Butler be able to suit up for Game 3 or 4?
How Long Could Jimmy Butler Be Out?
Despite the ongoing Round 1, there is no guarantee that Butler will be available for the next two games. The initial X-rays showed that Butler suffered no structural damage, which is a good sign, but the Warriors have been down this road before this season.
Earlier, superstar Stephen Curry missed a week with a pelvic contusion, which worked in his favor because he only ended up missing two games. While Butler’s situation could be a little different due to the playoffs, there has to be some doubt about him being able to suit up for Game 3.
Quick thread on Jimmy Butler's pelvic contusion for #DubNation. As with the injury that Curry suffered, a pelvic contusion is essentially bruising / inflammation to the bones of the pelvis and/or soft tissues in that region. Assuming that further imaging does not actually showā¦
— Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. (@DrNiravPandya)
Butler missing 3-5 days would have him out of Games 3 and 4, but if the MRI comes back fine, there’s always a chance he attempts to play both.
While recovery time is varied, Butler can be expected to make a speedy return.
š (via @timkawakami) pic.twitter.com/4qf1njpEBl
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame)
Butler is infamous for playing through injury, which might be a saving grace for the Warriors’ postseason run. His pain tolerance is admirable on the court, but considering the Warriors are looking for a chance at another championship, you don’t want to risk the health of a playmaker like Butler.
In fact, Warriors’ defense could have very well taken off if Butler never went down. They were only down 7 points in the first quarter when he exited, and Golden State is known for their runs.
Can The Warriors Bounce Back After Game 2 Loss?
Typically, in the Warriors’ playoff series (where they aren’t the top seed), they manage to get at least one road game before heading back home. This is what they managed to pull off in this series, as they now have an opportunity to win both games at home.
If the Warriors are able to steal both Games 3 and 4 with or without Butler, the series is virtually over.
Game 3 against the Rockets is scheduled on Saturday, April 26 at the Chase Center in San Francisco.