Jimmy Butler Injury Worrisome For Warriors

The injury to Jimmy Butler during Wednesday night’s 109-94 loss to the Houston Rockets certainly has those within the Golden State Warriors organization a bit worried.

Butler played only eight minutes in the loss — going 1-for-2 from the field for 3 points. Going up for a rebound in the first quarter, he collided with Rockets wing Amen Thompson and ultimately fell hard on the ground. The brunt of the fall came on his tailbone.

Butler tried playing through the issue, but it was too painful — and after another attempt to try and reenter the game — he was unable to continue. With the team coming back to the Bay Area on Thursday, reports indicate that Butler will have an MRI to assess any potential damage.

Losing him for any substantial time could crush Golden State’s chances at advancing past Houston. When Butler was acquired, the dynamics within the team totally changed. He offered a second alpha scoring option to Steph Curry, simultaneously taking pressure off him. The toughness within the group was ramped up, and his presence enabled Golden State to operate with its famed small-ball lineup that had made them successful for years.

If Butler is indeed out, Golden State faces the possibility of going even smaller, or perhaps reintegrating Jonathan Kuminga into the rotation. A freak athlete at 6’9″, he had been on the outskirts of Steve Kerr’s ideal rotation likely due to his lack of consistent shooting. At the very least, he would provide some size and speed against a team superior in both categories as currently constituted.