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[Saba Sports News] Jimmy Butler is reportedly making encouraging progress on the injury front.
The Golden State Warriors star missed Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets due to a pelvic contusion, an injury he suffered in Game 2 when Amen Thompson undercut him while battling for a rebound. Butler is officially listed as “questionable” for Game 4, but according to sources, he is “trending toward a return.”
Despite the frightening fall, the Warriors reportedly received the “best case scenario” regarding Butler’s injury — no fracture or structural damage was found.
Butler is no stranger to playing through pain during the playoffs. He notably battled through a severe ankle sprain during the Miami Heat’s 2023 postseason run all the way to the NBA Finals. With Golden State looking to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over Houston, Butler is expected to suit up if cleared by the team’s medical staff.
The Warriors managed to hold serve at home without Butler in Game 3. Stephen Curry delivered a vintage performance, scoring a game-high 36 points on just 23 shots. Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II helped fill the scoring gap, combining for 33 points off the bench in Golden State’s 104-93 win.