04/28/25 08:43:00
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04/28 20:41 CDT Jimmy Butler set to play for the Warriors in Game 4 of
first-round playoff series against Rockets
Jimmy Butler set to play for the Warriors in Game 4 of first-round playoff
series against Rockets
By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --- Warriors forward Jimmy Butler was set to play and in the
starting lineup for Game 4 of Golden State's first-round playoff series against
the Houston Rockets on Monday night after he sustained a pelvic contusion in a
frightening fall during Game 2 on Wednesday.
Butler participated in the morning shootaround earlier in the day and just
needed to have a successful warmup to be deemed good to go, coach Steve Kerr
said.
"Well, we're hopeful that he'll play but he's got to warm up first and we'll
see," coach Steve Kerr said, adding that if he's available, "He's not on a
minutes restriction, it'll just be based on how he's feeling."
On Sunday, when Butler spent much of the day working with the medical staff,
Kerr said Vice President of Player Health and Performance Rick Celebrini
couldn't predict how many minutes Butler's body might be able to handle until
he's actually back out on the floor in live action.
The star forward underwent an MRI exam on Thursday in the Bay Area that
revealed he injured his pelvis and has a deep gluteal muscle contusion. The
Warriors led the best-of-seven series 2-1 after winning 104-93 on Saturday
without Butler, led by Stephen Curry's 36 points over nearly 41 minutes and big
performances off the bench from Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II.
If Butler is back, Kerr will be able to rest Curry more regularly.
"With Jimmy out, we knew we were going to have to play Steph more," Kerr said.
"So if Jimmy plays tonight and looks like himself, then hopefully we can get
Steph down closer to 35 (minutes)."
Butler went down hard when fouled by Amen Thompson late in the first quarter
and then missed the rest of the Warriors' 109-94 Game 2 loss Wednesday.
Butler tried to secure a rebound when Thompson undercut him and sent the
Warriors star's feet high into the air so that he came down straight onto his
tailbone. Both players thudded to the floor and Butler grimaced in pain
grabbing at his backside. He stayed in briefly to shoot two free throws before
going to the locker room.
The Warriors know how much they will need Butler if they want to make a deep
postseason run.
In the Game 1 win against the Rockets, he had 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting,
seven rebounds, six assists and five steals in 42 minutes of action. The
Warriors are 25-9 since Butler made his debut at Chicago on Feb. 8, including
23-8 in the regular season, a play-in tournament win over Memphis and the two
games facing Houston.
"Hopefully we get Jimmy back for Game 4," said Payton, who scored 11 of his 16
points in the fourth quarter, "and get back to our regularly scheduled program."
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