The knockdown, drag-out first-round series between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets took its first casualty in the first half of Game 2 on Wednesday night.
Jimmy Butler III was ruled out for the remainder of the game after taking a hard fall late in the first quarter. The Warriors said Butler suffered a pelvic contusion and will undergo further imaging Thursday after he landed on his tailbone when his legs were taken out from under him while attempting to grab a defensive rebound.
The Rockets’ Amen Thompson, who undercut Butler crashing the offensive glass, was assessed a foul on the play. Butler gingerly sank 1 of 2 shots from the free-throw line before subbing out at the next stoppage of play. He was escorted back to the locker room by a member of the Warriors’ training staff and didn’t return.
Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors and Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets lay on the ground during the first quarter in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 23, 2025 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
The Warriors were already operating at less than full strength with Brandin Podziemski battling a stomach bug. Podziemski attempted to play but was also determined to be questionable to return at the same time Butler was ruled out.
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Golden State was already in a hole when Butler fell to the floor and the gap only widened with their No. 2 option in the locker room. The score was 24-16 when Butler departed with 1:51 left in the first quarter, and by the time he was ruled out midway through the second quarter, the Rockets were doubling up the Warriors, 40-20.
Butler had three points and two rebounds in eight minutes. He played 42 minutes, contributing 25 points, in the Warriors’ 95-85 win in Sunday in Game 1.
The Warriors had been a different team since trading for Butler in early February — 22-5 with him and Stephen Curry on the court — and his sudden absence forced coach Steve Kerr to get creative. Kerr expanded the rotation to 12 players, including the first playoff action for Jonathan Kuminga and former lacrosse star Pat Spencer.
Kuminga, the Warriors’ third-leading scorer, had been out of Golden State’s rotation for the past three games, with Butler logging at least 40 minutes in each contest.
