Jimmy Butler Ruled Out for Warriors' Game 3 Against Rockets

The status of Jimmy Butler for Saturday’s game has been confirmed. The key Warriors forward, who has been instrumental in reviving Golden State’s season, will sit out the crucial Game 3 of the first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets. Butler was diagnosed with a “pelvis and deep gluteal muscle contusion” following a severe fall in the first quarter of Game 2 on Wednesday. The Warriors’ offense has noticeably faltered in Butler’s absence, as he has significantly contributed to the team’s impressive 25-9 record—inclusive of post-season and Play-In Tournament games—since joining the franchise. Prior to this decision, he was listed as questionable.

Game 3 is set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

Here’s the lowdown on Butler’s availability for Game 3:

Is Jimmy Butler active for the Golden State Warriors today?

No, according to the NBA’s official injury report, Butler will not participate in Saturday’s Game 3 against the Rockets.

Even by Saturday afternoon, Butler’s status remained uncertain. Golden State intended to reassess his condition after a pre-game workout to make a last-minute decision on his participation, as confirmed by a person familiar with the situation speaking to USA TODAY Sports, who chose to remain anonymous due to not being authorized to speak publicly.

Less than two hours before Game 3, Warriors coach Steve Kerr remarked there was still no final decision on Butler’s availability, mentioning that he would receive some pre-game treatment.

“He’ll try to get some work done downstairs and see if he can go,” Kerr shared with reporters on Saturday.

The Warriors had initially declared Butler questionable for Saturday’s matchup.

How did Jimmy Butler sustain his injury against the Houston Rockets?

Butler’s injury occurred after a harsh fall onto the court during Wednesday’s game, which concluded with a 109-94 victory for the Rockets. Late in the first quarter, as Butler leaped to secure a defensive rebound, Rockets forward Amen Thompson unintentionally undercut Butler, causing him to lose balance and land hard on his tailbone.

He remained on the floor momentarily in discomfort before managing to stand up slowly. After making 1 of 2 free throws, he exited for the locker room, and the Warriors eventually declared him out for the game.

“Hopefully, he’s OK,” Kerr commented post-game on Wednesday. “We’ll see. … Jimmy always says he’s going to be fine. But we have to wait and see with the MRI.”

Thursday’s MRI results confirmed Butler’s injury but showed no structural damage, opening a pathway for his potential return to play.