The Golden State Warriors’ Game 2 matchup against the Houston Rockets took a grim turn early as star guard Jimmy Butler exited with an injury that was all too familiar to Warriors fans.
What Happened to Jimmy Buttler vs. the Rockets?
With 2:28 left in the first quarter and the Warriors trailing 22-15, Butler soared for a rebound when Houston’s Amen Thompson unintentionally undercut him, tripping and taking out Butler’s legs mid-air. The scary and awkward fall sent Butler crashing hard to the floor in a moment that had Warriors fans holding their breaths.
Thompson was called for a loose-ball foul, and Butler shot his free throws before limping straight to the locker room. He wouldn’t return for the rest of the game.
Jimmy Butler hit the ground hard after being undercut by Amen Thompson 😳 pic.twitter.com/Icd2wBF50U
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 24, 2025
Shortly after, it was announced that Butler had suffered a pelvic contusion — the same injury that Stephen Curry sustained earlier in the season. A pelvic contusion is essentially bruising to the bones of the pelvis, and it’s often the result of a hard fall or impact.
The Warriors confirmed Butler would undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his injury. Initial X-rays at the arena reportedly showed no major damage, but an MRI will provide more details.
Can the Warriors Win Without Butler?
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr commented on the immense impact of Butler’s absence, particularly considering the physicality of the matchup.
“Houston is a great defense and a very physical team, so that’s a big part of the equation of this series,” Kerr said during the second quarter. “You have to handle it.”
Following the loss of Butler, Kerr pivoted to Jonathan Kuminga.
“We will put Jonathan in,” said Kerr. “We know he can play well against these guys, and he’ll be able to attack the rim a little bit.”
Despite Butler logging just eight minutes, his impact was sorely missed, especially after a dominant “Playoff Jimmy” Game 1 performance in which he posted 25 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, all while remaining active defensively with 5 steals.
The Rockets ultimately defeated the 109-94 in Game 2, evening the series at 1-1. After the Warriors’ huge Game 1 win, they now head to Chase Center for Games 3 and 4 with the series tied. If the MRI reveals anything serious and Butler is sidelined, it would be a major blow to Golden State’s playoff run.
As the Warriors await further results, the focus will shift to Golden State’s supporting cast, particularly Kuminga, and whether he can step up to fill the void left by Butler. Even if Butler only misses a game or two of this series, that absence would be severely detrimental to the Warriors’ postseason hopes.