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Ohm Youngmisuk
Jimmy Butler suffered an MRI that has not revealed any structural damage, but the star of the Golden State Warriors is serious in danger of game 3 missing with a muscular contusion of the deep buttocks, said sources of league in ASPN Shams Charania.
The Warriors and Butler have two days off before welcoming the Houston Rockets on Saturday at the Chase Center with the first round series equally at 1-1. Since MRI did not show any fracture after Butler made a frightening fall in the first quarter of match 2 Wednesday evening, the Warriors obtained a scenarios result, sources told Charania.
Butler will use time before the Tipoff PST of 5.30 p.m. to do everything he can to play. His return will probably be determined by how his body reacts to treatment in the next two days.
Butler went up to the top to take a defensive rebound off the failed shot from Amen Thompson from Houston when Thompson stressed Butler. Butler crashed into his area of the cucker and was visibly in immediate pain. The Warriors would later excluded Butler in the second quarter with a pool bruise.
Without Butler, the Warriors fought but were managed by the Rockets, 109-94, in match 2. If the Warriors must play match 3 without Butler, it will be a blow. Butler transformed the Warriors while Golden State took 25-9 – including the regular season, the game and the playoffs – since he made his debut on February 8 in Chicago.
Butler was the star that Stephen Curry needs next to him to alleviate the offensive burden while managing the non-conservative crucial minutes. He also helped Draymond Green raised the defense of the Warriors first in the league.
“I mean that if Jimmy is out, we have to rethink everything,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr after match 2. “Like rotations, which begins and the best combinations and all that.”
Jonathan Kuminga could be an option for a more important role if Butler is not able to play in match 3. Kuminga played 26 minutes and scored 11 points but pulled 4 for 12 on the field in his first game in the playoffs. Kuminga had fallen out of the rotation since the final of the regular season.
Butler has raised his game with a form “Playoff Jimmy” from the regular season final when he collected 30 points and nine assists in a defeat in overtime against the Clippers. He followed this with 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a game victory against Memphis. And then, while helping Golden State stealing match 1 in Houston on Sunday, Butler paid 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five interceptions.
Curry has treated coccyx injuries in the past, including a pelvic bruise he suffered on March 20. Curry would miss two games after that, but said on his return, he was not at the risk of worsening his injury except another fall in the injured area.
“The last one I had was just a bruise and it was only a thing of pain tolerance,” said Curry about his recent pelvic bruise. “I hope it’s just a bruise, you might eventually play.”
