Golden State wing Jimmy Butler III left the Warriors’ playoff game against the host Houston Rockets late in the first quarter on Wednesday after sustaining a pelvic contusion, and he is due to undergo an MRI exam on Thursday.
After the Rockets’ 109-94 win leveled the Western Conference first-round series at one victory apiece, Golden State coach Steve Kerr said, “Jimmy always says he’s going to be fine. We have to wait to see with the MRI.”
Butler hit the floor on a hard fall with 2:28 remaining in the opening period. Rockets guard Amen Thompson, jostling for position in the paint with Golden State forward Draymond Green, tumbled into Butler’s legs as Butler leapt for a rebound.
Butler came down flat on his back and suffered the injury. He stayed in the game and made two free throws, but left with 1:51 left in the quarter.
Kerr said postgame that he had yet to watch the rebound, but his staff told him “there was some physicality on the rebound and I think Thompson just inadvertently found himself underneath Jimmy. … We didn’t think there was anything wrong with the play. It was just one of those things.
Butler was critical to Golden State’s Game 1 win with 25 points. He had three points and two rebounds in the 7:52 he logged on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old veteran was acquired by the Warriors in February from the Miami Heat in a five-team trade. Golden State was 25-26 before Butler made his debut, then went 23-8 the rest of the regular season as Butler averaged 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists with his new club.
–Field Level Media
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