Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III falls in direction of the courtroom after being fouled by Houston Rockets’ Amen Thompson in 1st quarter of Recreation 2 of First Spherical of NBA Playoffs in Houston, Texas on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle through AP)
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr says he’s “comparatively optimistic” ahead Jimmy Butler will play Recreation 3 of their NBA playoff collection towards Houston regardless of struggling a pelvic contusion in Recreation 2.
Butler took a tough fall on a first-quarter foul by Houston’s Amen Thompson on Wednesday and had an MRI examination on Thursday that exposed the extent of the harm.
With the best-of-seven NBA Western Convention first-round collection tied at one sport apiece, Butler was listed as “questionable” for Saturday’s Recreation 3 in San Francisco.
READ: NBA: Jimmy Butler has pelvis contusion, standing for Recreation 3 unknown
“I’m comparatively optimistic,” Kerr mentioned Friday. “I imply, it’s Jimmy, and we all know he’s keen to play by way of something.
“So we’ll see. This can be a day-to-day factor for certain, and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.
“However I feel there’s an opportunity he performs.”
Butler, who got here down arduous on his tailbone when Thompson hit him as he rose to seize a rebound, stayed within the sport lengthy sufficient to shoot two free throws then departed and didn’t return.
The Rockets received 109-94 to stage the collection.
READ: NBA: Jimmy Butler decided to carry Warriors one other championship
Butler averaged 17.9 factors, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 30 common season video games for the Warriors after arriving in a February commerce from Miami.
He scored 25 factors within the Warriors’ sport one victory over the Rockets.
Kerr acknowledged that his persevering with absence would require changes, however wouldn’t alter the Warriors’ plan of assault towards the Rockets.
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“There’s not two sport plans, however two rotations,” Kerr mentioned. “The sport plan doesn’t change.”
