HOUSTON — Jimmy Butler III, the Golden State Warriors’ hard-nosed forward, is back in a familiar spot: waiting on an MRI, his playoff fate hanging in the balance. On April 23, 2025, Butler limped off the court in Game 2 against the Houston Rockets, clutching at his pelvis after a first-quarter collision. The Warriors called it a pelvic contusion, ruling him out for the night. Now, as he heads back to the Bay Area for further tests, the scene feels like a gritty rerun of his final postseason with the Miami Heat last year.
Butler’s injury came early in a 118-102 loss to the Rockets, a game that exposed Golden State’s vulnerability without their defensive anchor. He took a hard spill after tangling with Houston’s Jalen Green, grabbing at his hip before exiting. Initial X-rays showed no fractures, a small relief for a Warriors squad already thin on the wing. But the MRI, set for April 25, will tell the real story—whether Butler’s playoffs are in jeopardy or if he’s dodged a bullet.
This isn’t Butler’s first dance with postseason injury drama. On April 17, 2024, while still with Miami, he went down in a play-in game against the Philadelphia 76ers. A seemingly minor knee tweak turned out to be a brutal MCL sprain, revealed by an MRI days later. That injury iced his season, sidelining him as the Heat crashed out early. Now, 371 days later, Butler’s in the same boat, awaiting scans that could make or break Golden State’s championship hopes.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, never one to sugarcoat, laid it bare after the game. The team’s ready to shuffle lineups if Butler’s out—maybe leaning on rookie Brandin Podziemski or shifting Draymond Green to small-ball five. Kerr called the foul that caused the injury “unlucky, not dirty,” but you could see the worry etched on his face. Golden State’s title dreams hinge on Butler’s health, and everyone knows it.
The Warriors haven’t released an official timeline for Butler’s return, pending the MRI results. The series, now tied 1-1, heads to San Francisco for Game 3 on April 26. Butler’s status remains up in the air.