OAKLAND, Calif. — Jimmy Butler hobbled off the court in the second quarter of Game 2 on April 16, clutching his ankle, and the Golden State Warriors’ playoff clash with the Houston Rockets took a sharp turn. The six-time All-Star, known for his grit, didn’t return. At halftime, TNT’s “Inside the NBA” crew dissected the moment, and Charles Barkley, never one to mince words, boiled his thoughts down to four: “I hope Jimmy’s fine.”
The injury came during a scramble under the basket. Butler, battling for position, took a hard fall after a collision with Houston’s Amen Thompson. He stayed down, wincing, as the Oracle Arena crowd held its breath. Medics rushed over, and Butler limped to the locker room, his night done. The Warriors, already leaning on their depth, turned to Jonathan Kuminga, the 6-foot-7 forward, to fill the void. Coach Steve Kerr, barking orders from the sideline, made the call to counter Houston’s size and speed.
Barkley, alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson, broke down the play on air. The Hall of Famer praised Kerr’s quick pivot to Kuminga but kept his focus on Butler. His brief message cut through the chatter, a rare moment of restraint for the outspoken analyst. Social media lit up, with official NBA accounts noting the injury and Kerr’s adjustment. The league’s injury report later confirmed Butler was sidelined with a sprained ankle, pending further evaluation.
The play that floored Butler sparked debate. Official NBA footage showed Thompson’s move—some called it a clean block, others a reckless undercut. The refs didn’t whistle a foul, and the game rolled on. Warriors’ X account posted a clip of Kuminga’s spark off the bench, while the Rockets’ feed stayed mum on Thompson’s role. Butler’s status for Game 3 remains unclear, with the series tied 1-1.
Kuminga finished with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Thompson led Houston with 22. Butler, before exiting, had 8 points in 14 minutes. The Warriors won, 112-108.