With the Western Conference first-round series tied 1-1, the Golden State Warriors return home for Game 3 against the Rockets Saturday night — and all eyes are on Jimmy Butler’s status.
Butler exited early in Game 2 with a “deep glute contusion” after landing hard while chasing a rebound. He didn’t return, and without him, Golden State looked more like the shaky team from the season’s first half — jacking up threes, struggling defensively, and eventually falling 109-94 in Houston.
Since Butler joined the squad in February, the Warriors have gone 24-8 with him in the lineup (including playoffs). His impact in Game 1 was undeniable: 25 points, 7 boards, 6 assists, 5 steals in a 95-85 win. With him off the floor, they shot just 41.3% in Game 2, allowed 45 points from deep, and let Jalen Green torch them for 8 triples.
Stephen Curry — who missed two games in March with a similar contusion — didn’t rule Butler out. “It’s a pain tolerance thing,” Curry said Friday. “You could play through that eventually.” The team’s medical staff is expected to evaluate Butler pregame, meaning he’ll likely be a game-time decision.
If he can’t go, expect more minutes from Jonathan Kuminga (11 points in 26 minutes off the bench) and potentially another heavy dose of threes from the Warriors, who attempted 43 in Game 2 (up from 32 in Game 1). That’s a recipe bettors should watch closely — especially when it comes to totals and team shooting props.
On the Houston side, Jalen Green bounced back from a rough playoff debut by burying 8-of-18 from beyond the arc. He credited nerves in Game 1, not Butler’s absence, for the difference. Still, the Rockets upped their 3-point percentage from 20.7% to 37.5%, a massive swing that may not sustain without another off night from Golden State’s perimeter defense.
Key Betting Angles:
Butler’s Status: Game-time decision. Warriors are 24-7 with him in uniform since Feb.
Warriors Offense: Attempted 11 more threes without Butler in Game 2.
Rockets 3PT Shooting: Jumped 16.8 percentage points between Games 1 and 2.
Jalen Green Prop Watch: Averaging 4.0 made threes per game in series; hit 8 in Game 2.
