Dub Hub: Steve Kerr says Jimmy Butler’s injury was ‘inadvertent’ after tough loss vs. Rockets

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Wednesday, April 24th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steve Kerr calls Jimmy Butler’s injury ‘inadvertent’ after tough 109-94 loss against the Rockets.
• The Warriors downplay the physicality in Game 2, according to the latest article by The Athletic’s Anthony Slater.
• NBA will announce the winner of the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year award on Thursday night.

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler suffered a pelvis contusion during Wednesday night’s 109-94 loss to the Houston Rockets, exiting early after a scary fall in the first quarter.

The injury occurred when Butler was undercut by Rockets’ Amen Thompson while going up for a rebound. The six-time All-Star crashed to the floor and remained down in visible pain before being ruled out for the remainder of the game. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday.

After the game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr weighed in on the incident, calling the fall an “inadvertent” accident in a crowded rebounding situation.

Fortunately, the Warriors will now benefit from two full days of rest before Saturday’s pivotal Game 3 at Chase Center. While there’s optimism that Butler could be ready by then, Golden State must be prepared to respond with or without him.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, April 24th:

Warriors News:

Warriors’ Jimmy Butler suffers pelvis contusion, set for MRI | ESPN

“Obviously feel terrible for Jimmy,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Hopefully he’s OK. We’ll see.”

Butler will have two days off before the Warriors and Rockets play Game 3 at Chase Center on Saturday night. Kerr was asked whether Jonathan Kuminga could be an option to start if Butler can’t play. Kuminga had fallen out of the rotation at the end of the regular season but played 26 minutes and finished with 11 points in the Game 2 loss.

“I mean, if Jimmy’s out, we have to rethink everything,” Kerr said. “Like rotations, who starts and the best combinations and all that stuff.”

Warriors downplay Rockets’ physicality after Jimmy Butler’s hard fall, Game 2 loss | The Athletic

The Warriors made it a point not to complain about Houston’s physicality postgame, instead blaming their poor defense on Jalen Green as the night’s biggest problem, understanding that this series will need to be won in a rugged environment when it restarts in San Francisco.

“Actually I might agree with (Draymond that it was less physical),” Curry said. “There were a couple crashes that happened out there, but we know what they’re trying to do — use their size advantage at times to try to bully us. We held up a pretty good fight both games. We just let Jalen get going a little bit and he got free to space. There’s no reason he should get up 18 3s.”

Warriors-Rockets series resembles old-school NBA war of attrition | NBC Sports Bay Area

Though no punches were thrown, it only became clearer what kind of series we’re in for.

“It’s a f–kin’ war now,” one person within the Warriors’ locker room said to NBC Sports Bay Area. “All we can do is fight back.”

Pure fight could be the solution. The Warriors will get their rest Wednesday night, fly home Thursday and learn from the film before Friday’s practice ahead of Saturday’s Game 3 at Chase Center. They’re going to have to find a way to combat the Rockets’ physicality. Somehow, some way.

Draymond Green trolls Rockets fans over ‘F–k you Draymond’ chants during Game 2 | NBC Sports Bay Area

“It’s not original,” Green told reporters at Toyota Center. “Been there before, won a championship while it was happening. So yeah, it’s not really an original. You can’t steal other people’s s—t. That belongs to Boston. So I kind of just kept it pushing.”

Jonathan Kuminga shares his thoughts on not playing the previous three games

NBA News:

Kristaps Porzingis shakes off gash to head in Celtics’ Game 2 win | NBA

“How can I not come back? ‘Oh, I have five stitches, I can’t play anymore?’ My legs are working. Of course I’m going back to be out there,” Porzingis said. “I like these moments.”

Porzingis briefly left Boston’s Game 2 playoff win over Orlando on Wednesday night after taking an elbow from Goga Bitadze of the Magic in the third quarter. He returned to shoot a pair of free throws, got stitches to close the wound, and then was on the court in the closing minutes.

The 7-foot-2 Porzingis finished Boston’s 109-100 victory with 20 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes.

The fishing ad that foreshadowed this incredible resurgence from Kawhi Leonard | ESPN

It’s not one injury he’s coming back from at this point — it’s all of them. Each one leaves inflammation and scar tissue. The effect has been cumulative, not acute.

He has “good days and bad days,” as he says in the video. Nothing about his knees is predictable.

“It’s the nature of the game,” he says. Leonard has learned to live with that uncertainty. “I’m just happy to be able to move,” he said after Game 2. The challenge for everyone else is to accept that, too.

NBA will announce the Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday night

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Player grades: Warriors vs. Rockets Game 2

Pat Spencer

12 minutes, 11 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 5-for-7 shooting, 1-for-1 threes, 78.6% TS, -2

Spencer had an offensive explosion in the second quarter which … hey, didn’t see that one coming. Didn’t see him playing at all but the loss of two starters dictated things, and Spencer absolutely made the most of his opportunity. Great stuff.

Grade: A

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