The Houston Rockets star forward Jimmy Butler was forced off with a pelvic contusion during Game 2, and the Golden State Warriors find themselves in a precarious position. The injury not only pulled one of their top producers off the court, but it frightened the rest of their playoff run.
It was a late first quarter injury that would completely change the game—and maybe even the series—in such an obvious way. But afraid of truck traffic or no, Butler took the contested rebound. Butler almost was undercut mid air by Rockets rookie Amen Thompson, tangled up with Draymond Green.
Butler then fell flat on his lower back and pelvis area, and the result was a violent fall. He laid to the floor visibly in pain before walking off to the locker room on his own. There was some initial hope he would return though the Warriors later said he would miss the rest of the game.
Initial Diagnosis and What Comes Next
Butler was then taken to Houston’s Toyota Center for an X-ray after his exit. There were no fractures, according to team sources and reports from Yahoo Sports, which provided that they did not show anything major based on the scans. The team is cautious but still set to get an MRI — back in San Francisco — to find out the extent of the injury.
However, after Game 2 Butler is expected to fly straight to the Bay Area for the scan. This test could be the difference between the season and beyond. Butler could return, however agonisingly, in the short term if the injury is confined to a contusion. He will, however, be sidelined for a lot longer if more serious damage is found, potentially knocking him out for the rest of the post season.
The Ripple Effect on Game 2
Butler’s absence immediately had a forceful effect. Golden State seemed without its two-way leader after losing it. Steph Curry had put up 20 points in the face of such defensive pressure but the Warriors found it hard to get a rhythm in particular from their inside game. Without Butler’s slashing, drives, defensive rotations and veteran leadership, the team was significantly lacking a focal point.He attacked the damage that a flat-footed, confused Warrior defense laid to him, Jalen Green going for 38 as Rockets explode. Golden State was never able to threaten the game away from Houston in the fourth, closing the gap to 11 points.
Hornets Coach Steve Clifford Held Jonathan Kuminga off the bench to fill Butler’s spot as he played 26 minutes and had 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. His performance was more than energetic, recalling the depth problem that plagues the Warriors when one of their major stars goes down.The Warriors then return to San Francisco in time to play at home Saturday night in Game 3. The next game in the series is a shift in momentum, tied 1-1. The million dollar question is whether Butler will be on the court, however.
Players such as Curry and Kuminga have recently sat out one or two games with similar injuries. Butler’s fall, however, was bad enough in two aspects: the degree of impact and the matter of how backward it was. Even if he’s allowed to play, his mobility and impact will be restricted, especially on that side at which he shadows the best perimeter scorer on the opposition.
A Pivotal Moment for Golden State
For Golden State, this season has been Butler’s pairing with Curry. The Warriors went 22-5 with the two of them playing together in the 27 games they were together. Game 1 performance (25, 7, 6, 5) of his was instrumental in getting a win and leading the way for a run we hoped would be deep.
Now, that run is in jeopardy. Something may have changed in one hard fall. The Warriors wait for medical results and hope that their star’s competitiveness cannot be shaken and that his durability will match it.
Now, as that MRI creeps closer, this Golden State team comes to a one that can win but may have to do it without one of its most important pieces.
