The Golden State Warriors, after a rough end to the season, have come out firing on all cylinders in these NBA playoffs. Facing a game second-seeded Houston Rockets, the Warriors have a commanding 2-1 lead, with Game 4 at home. However, what was even more impressive about their series lead was the third game, where they won without Jimmy Butler in the lineup.
Despite their second-best player out, a Stephen Curry masterclass paved the way for the win. But to go far in the postseason, the team needs Butler moving forward. What is his status for a crucial fourth game?
What Is Jimmy Butler’s Injury?
The entire outlook of the playoffs changed in Game 2 of the series when Butler, going up for a rebound, was cut off in midair by the Rockets’ Amen Thompson, who tripped over his own teammate’s feet. The former Miami Heat superstar suffered a nasty fall, landing squarely on his hip.
The official diagnosis soon after was a left pelvic contusion that kept him out of the series’ third game entirely. They were able to survive regardless, pulling out a gritty 104-93 win, behind a 37-point performance by Curry.
However, for the entirety of the playoffs, Butler is going to be a critical piece to the Warriors’ puzzle.
What Is Butler’s Status For Game 4?
The official injury report from Golden State has the six-time All-Star as questionable heading into the game. Keep in mind: This was the same status Butler had for the previous game as well, before ultimately being ruled out.
Unfortunately for fans in the Bay, the likelihood of a full recovery this quickly might be nigh-on impossible.
While he is working with the training staff to potentially be available, senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the former Eastern Conference Finals MVP was severely restricted with any movement and had swelling to deal with as well.
Even if he does suit up for the second-straight home game for the Warriors, the chances of his performance being anywhere near peak production are close to zero.
The Impact of Butler’s Absence
In Game 3, Butler being gone did not matter. The Rockets showed their age once again, and Curry was transcendent en route to taking a lead in the series. However, the absence of Butler for a longer period of time might not be sustainable.
Houston and head coach Ime Udoka will have a better game plan in place to take advantage of his absence. Add in the value he has brought since coming over, going from an 11th to a 7th seed, with his last three healthy games giving fans the first taste of Playoff Jimmy.
Against the Clippers in Game 82 of the regular season (30 points and nine assists), followed by 38-7-6 and three steals in the Play-In, and a Game One performance for the ages with 25-7-6 and five steals to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
That kind of production is impossible to replicate, and it might not be the absolute highs we’ve seen in recent years from “Playoff Jimmy”. If Golden State can get by this round without him, that is terrific news for the Warriors, but he is critical for them to have any chance of making a legitimately deep playoff push.
