Golden State Warriors small forward Jimmy Butler looks on against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 6, 2025, in Brooklyn, N.Y.
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The Golden State Warriors will be without Jimmy Butler for Game 3 of their first-round playoff matchup with the Houston Rockets, according to multiple reports. ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report the news about an hour before tipoff, adding that Jonathan Kuminga will start in his place.
Appearing on ABC’s “NBA Countdown” before tipoff, Charania said Butler’s injury has led to significant swelling.
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“As soon as the Warriors saw him enter today and evaluated him they immediately ruled him out. He basically, Malika, has no mobility,” Charania said to ESPN host Malika Andrews. “And it’s not just about playing through pain or taking pain-killing shots, he literally cannot move well enough to play basketball tonight for the Warriors.”
Charania said the Warriors are hopeful he’ll be able to play in Game 4 on Monday.
Butler was diagnosed with a deep glute muscle contusion on Thursday following a hard fall in the Dubs’ Game 2 loss Wednesday to the Rockets in Houston, which tied the series at 1-1. Kerr said he was “relatively optimistic” Butler would be able to play in Game 3 on Friday and told reporters on Saturday that Butler’s status was still uncertain. But the ultimate decision to not play came shortly after Kerr’s pregame press conference.
With the series now moving to San Francisco and the Warriors now holding home court after splitting the first two games, they’ll now have to rely on Kuminga, who was unceremoniously benched in a playoff seed-deciding final game of the regular season as well as Game 1 of the series. Butler played just eight minutes before a freak fall sent him to the locker room on Wednesday, making way for Kuminga to reenter the Warriors rotation. In 26 minutes he finished just 4-for-12 from the field, committed a turnover and had a plus-minus of minus-3.
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Following the 109-94 loss, Kuminga complained about people telling him to “be ready.”
“I hate the fact that everybody is telling me … be ready, be ready… I already know that I’m ready. The more you keep telling me I have to get ready, get ready, it’s kind of irritating,” he said.
In addition to Kuminga, Charania reported that the Warriors are expected to start Quinten Post at center alongside Kuminga and Draymond Green. While Charania didn’t report who would get replaced for Post, it likely will be Moses Moody going to the bench.
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Tipoff Saturday at Chase Center is set for 5:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ABC.
This breaking news story has been updated.
