Latest update on Jimmy Butler's injury

Jimmy Butler underwent an MRI that did not reveal structural damage, but the Golden State Warriors player is at serious risk of missing the third game of the series against the Houston Rockets due to a deep bruise on his buttock, as reported by Shams Charania of ESPN citing league sources.

The Warriors and Butler have two days of rest before facing the Rockets this Saturday at Chase Center, with the first-round series tied 1-1. Despite Butler's fall in the first quarter of the second game causing great concern, the MRI results represent the best possible scenario, as no fractures were detected.

Butler will use the time until the game, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (Pacific time), to do everything possible to be available. His participation will depend on how his body responds to treatment in the next two days.

The injury occurred when Butler jumped for a defensive rebound after Amen Thompson's missed shot. In the play, Thompson slid under Butler, who landed forcefully on his tailbone area and showed immediate signs of pain. The Warriors sidelined him for the rest of the game shortly after, diagnosing him with a pelvic contusion.

Without Butler on the court, the Warriors fought but ended up falling to the Rockets 109-94 in the second game. His potential absence for the third game would be a severe blow to Golden State, which has recorded a 25-9 balance in wins and losses since Butler's debut on February 8 in Chicago across the regular season, play-in, and playoffs.

Butler has been the key piece Stephen Curry needed by his side to relieve offensive burden, in addition to providing stability in minutes without the star. He has also contributed to raising the team's defensive level with Draymond Green currently leading the league in that department.

"If Jimmy is not available, we have to rethink everything," said coach Steve Kerr after the second game. "Rotations, starters, combinations... everything."

Jonathan Kuminga could take on a more significant role if Butler does not recover in time. Kuminga played 26 minutes and scored 11 points with a 4-of-12 shooting in his first game of this postseason after being out of the rotation since the end of the regular season.

Since then, Butler has elevated his performance to "Playoff Jimmy" level. He closed the regular season with 30 points and nine assists in an overtime loss to the Clippers, then shined with 38 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in the play-in win over Memphis, and later was decisive in the victory in Houston with 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals.

Stephen Curry, who has dealt with similar injuries, including a pelvic contusion suffered on March 20, commented that such injuries mainly depend on pain tolerance. On that occasion, he missed two games but assured that unless there is another strong fall on the same area, there was no risk of worsening the injury. "The last one I had was just a bruise, and it's a matter of enduring the pain. Hopefully, it's just that, because in that case, you can eventually play," said the Warriors point guard.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Última hora de la lesión de Jimmy Butler