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Ohm Youngmisuk
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors have listed Jimmy Butler as questionable for Saturday’s Game 3 against the Houston Rockets with a pelvis and deep gluteal muscle contusion.
Head coach Steve Kerr said Butler’s status is day-to-day but that he thinks “there’s a chance he plays” a little over two days after taking a scary fall when Amen Thompson undercut him on a defensive rebound in the first quarter of Game 2 on Wednesday.
“I’m relatively optimistic,” Kerr said, citing Butler’s toughness. “I mean, Jimmy is Jimmy. We know he’s willing to play through anything, so we’ll see. I mean, this is a day-to-day thing for sure, and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow, but I think there’s a chance he plays.”
Butler underwent an MRI on Thursday that revealed no structural damage. Sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania that the Warriors star is in serious jeopardy of missing Game 3. Butler is going to do everything he can to play but much will depend on how his body responds to the treatment by Saturday.
Kerr said the Warriors had a long film session and then about a 30-minute practice where players got shots up and worked at offensive and defensive stations. Butler was held to the side during the practice.
Stephen Curry has dealt with tailbone injuries in the past, including a pelvic contusion he suffered on March 20. Curry would miss two games but said when he returned that he was not at risk of worsening his injury barring another hard fall on the injured area.
“It’s very similar,” Kerr said. “So it’s a pain tolerance thing, that’s why he’s day-to-day.”
Starting guard Brandin Podziemski, who was limited to 14 minutes in Game 2 due to illness related to something he ate, is feeling better and finally was able to eat again. He said he is good for Game 3. Gary Payton II is listed as questionable with a right shoulder strain.
Butler went up high to grab a defensive rebound off Thompson’s missed shot when Thompson undercut Butler. Thompson and Draymond Green were jostling for position before Thompson collided with Butler, who came crashing down on his tailbone area and was in immediate pain. Butler played just eight minutes before leaving the game.
Without Butler, the Warriors lost to the Rockets 109-94.
If the Warriors have to play Game 3 without Butler, it will be a massive blow. In helping Golden State steal Game 1 in Houston, Butler poured in 25 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals on Sunday.
Butler has turned the Warriors’ season around as Golden State has gone 25-9, including the regular season, play-in and postseason, since Butler made his Warriors debut on Feb. 8 in Chicago.
Jonathan Kuminga could be an option for a bigger role if Butler is unable to play in Game 3. Kuminga played 26 minutes and scored 11 points but shot 4-for-12 from the field in his first game of the postseason. Kuminga had fallen out of the rotation since the regular-season finale.
“Everybody’s got to be ready depending on what happens, whether Jimmy plays or not,” Kerr said. “A lot of guys came in and really performed well [in Game 2]. Pat Spencer had a great game for us and it’s great to see JK back out there finding his rhythm. We’ve got to just be ready for whatever we’re facing, and we believe we’ve got a lot of guys who can help us win the game tomorrow.”