Jimmy Butler III might just miss Game 3 of the ongoing first-round matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets. After joining the Warriors and helping the team finish as the seventh seed in the West, Butler took a hard fall in Game 2 of a potential seven-game series.
Losing him with less than three minutes to go in the first quarter led to the Warriors’ loss to the Rockets in Game 2, which tied the series at 1-1. The Warriors forward flew back to San Francisco before his team and had an MRI done. It was later reported that Butler had sustained a pelvic and deep gluteal muscle contusion.
Butler Has Been Listed On the Warriors’ Injury Report As Questionable
Amen Thompson’s controversial move on Butler caused him to fall after tripping him inadvertently, Warriors fans might have hoped for Butler to get up and play on. This wouldn’t be too much to ask for, given that Butler is known to play through injury, especially in the postseason.
Unfortunately, things did not go that way, as Butler exited the game and did not return. The recent update from the Warriors reveals that he was included in the injury report as “questionable” for Game 3 against the Rockets.
Jimmy Butler III injury update: pic.twitter.com/DDzrKYL0KN
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) April 25, 2025
This is undoubtedly bad news for Dub Nation. Butler has been pivotal for the Warriors and even led them in scoring in multiple games, such as their play-in matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. It will put significantly more pressure on Stephen Curry to score if Butler does not play.
Since he has a reputation for playing through injury, Warriors fans may expect him to suit up for Game 3. However, that expectation itself might be unfair. After all, very few stars in the league are expected to bounce back and return after injury without missing a single game.
If anyone can do that, it would be Butler. Unlike Curry and Draymond Green, he is the only veteran star on their roster without an NBA championship. Although Curry shows no signs of slowing down, it is no secret that the Warriors have a tiny window of opportunity to contend for an NBA title.
Since Butler knows that, he will likely play in Game 3. After all, if the Warriors can defend homecourt in the next two games, they will force the young and inexperienced Rockets to a 3-1 deficit. Ending the series as soon as possible will give Butler more time to recover. Thus, he might need to play with the bigger picture in his mind.
