Jimmy Butler Goes Down With Injury as Short-Handed Warriors Drop Game Two

The path to the Finals is never easy. There are many hardships during any championship run, and things just seem to get harder during the postseason.

That is something a relatively young Warriors team had to learn in game two against the Rockets.

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

After coming out strong in the series opener, the Warriors faced a tough challenge

They needed to keep up their intensity and win a second straight game on the road.

They also had to challenge the Rockets’ hustle again, keep them away from the rim, and work the ball around to find great shots.

They then needed to do all of that without Jimmy Butler

A Brutal Loss

Game two didn’t go the Warriors’ way in more ways than one. Not only did they struggle to get their offense going, but they also lost their second superstar early on.

In a rather lackluster first quarter, which the Rockets won by 10 points, Jimmy Butler left the game just eight minutes in.

He fell hard after going for a rebound and colliding with Amen Thompson, which sent him crashing to the floor. The tough impact resulted in a pelvic contusion that kept him out for the rest of the game.

Thompson also went down, but got back up much quicker than Butler did

The Warriors guard eventually walked down the court and shot his free throws, but it wasn’t long after that he left the game entirely.

The team said he would not return, and they plan to perform an MRI to get a better idea of the injuriy’s severity.

If that wasn’t bad enough, things got even more dire when Brandin Podziemski, who has stepped up to be a solid number three, also left the game with stomach issues.

Head coach Steve Kerr said before the contest the guard was dealing with stomach issues, and they soon got the better of him. He played just 14 minutes and put up no stats. The team hopes he’ll rebound from his illness and be back for game three.

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Playing From Behind

Without their second and third best players at full health, the Warriors looked lost in game two.

They had their moments, and managed to put together a few runs, but ultimately they couldn’t get much of anything going.

It was a clear example of why they brought in Butler, and showed just how much they depend on their one-two punch.

The Rockets easily won the first three quarters, before letting up a bit in the fourth to take a relatively easy 109-94 victory.

It was a tough loss for the Warriors, who simply weren’t the same team without him

Even with Curry leading the way, they lacked a true number two and were much closer to the Warriors of the early season than they were to the ones who took down game one.

Curry did have a solid night. He scored 20 points and dished out nine assists from the point position. However, he was the only bright spot.

Nobody stepped up to take over for Butler, with the next highest scorers being Quinten Post (12 points) and Moses Moody (12 points).

That type of bench production is simply not going to be enough in the postseason. While it may work when the stars are shooting well and putting up huge numbers, they need more in the next few games.

Moving Forward

Game one showed that the Warriors have what it takes to make a deep playoff run. Game two reinforced just how much they need their stars if they want to make it happen.

The team has a lot of talent, but they need all of it if they want to make it to the next round

The Rockets are a scrappy team with a lot of firepower. They also have the ability to run the floor and know how to get up and down the court.

The Warriors limited that in game one. Shorthanded, they couldn’t stop that explosiveness in game two.

Both contests showed that the series could very well come down to the Warriors’ health. If Butler has to sit out a game or two, it could swing momentum in the Rockets’ favor.

If he and Podziemski bounce back for game three at home, the Warriors could get back on top

Butler is one of the tougher players in the NBA. He does have a slight injury history, but if he can suit up and play, he will. That’s good news. What’s not good news is the Warriors’ bench still isn’t up to snuff.

They are a team that hinges on their starpower to win games. That doesn’t work when things are down, but it’s still a great strategy when things are looking up.