No Butler, No Problem: Short-Handed Warriors Outlast Rockets to Take Game Three

Before game three against the Rockets, the Warriors announced that star guard Jimmy Butler would not be playing.

The pure scorer fell hard in the first quarter of game two and suffered a deep gluteal muscle contusion that would keep him on the sideline during the contest.

While the news seemed to swing things in the Rockets’ favor, Butler is just one player. He’s talented and undoubtedly makes the Warriors better, but Golden State also has Stephen Curry. And it’s impossible to count out the best shooter in the world.

The superstar added to his already impressive resume by putting the team on his back and leading them to victory over a tough Rockets team. The win gives Warriors control of the series, and, more importantly, shows they can handle adversity when the chips are down.

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A Shot Above the Rest

Curry has always done well in big moments. That continued on Saturday. The Rockets seemed prime to gain control of the series, but they had no answer for the opposing guard. He put up 36 points, with five 3-pointers, along with nine assists and seven rebounds.

He also played 41 minutes, showing just how determined he is for a deep playoff run this season

While the Rockets wanted to focus on him with Butler out, Curry made the right play (and got open) possession after possession.

The end result was a strong 104-93 victory that should be concerning for the rest of the Western conference. Golden State is a worse team without Butler, but with Curry on the floor they always have a chance.

The Tale of Two Teams

There were many bright spots for the Warriors, and many unfortunate ones for Houston. The Rockets came into the night expecting an easy win. Instead, they were run off the court by what appeared to be a much more cohesive team.

Houston’s offense is well spread out, they ended five players in double digits, but they aren’t shooting particularly well and no one is taking over. Fred VanVleet led the way with 17, which isn’t enough for a star in the postseason.

On the flip side, Curry’s 36 was backed up by 17 from Buddy Hield, 16 from Gary Payton II, and 10 from Brandin Podzeimski.

All four players found ways to score, which created just enough havoc to keep Houston on the backfoot

The team particularly came alive in the fourth quarter, where they managed to create some distance and put the game away. Those heroics were exactly what they needed, giving them a key victory without their second in command.

“We had to have Jimmy’s back while he was out,” said Gary Payton II. “Hopefully we get Jimmy back for Game 4 and get back to our regularly scheduled program.”

A Return to Starter

While there are many takeaways from Saturday’s action, one that might get overlooked is Jonathan Kuminga returning to the floor. The athletic forward sat out three straight games, but returned to the lineup after Butler went down.

He then started game three, which is a big change for Golden State

Kuminga has proven he’s more than capable of holding his own in the past, but for all of his talent he is still undisciplined on defense and prone to offensive mistakes.

Those reasons are why Kerr has kept him out for the playoffs. Without Butler, the Warriors needed him to step back up.

He played 17 minutes, in which he scored seven points, threw two assists, and snagged a rebound. Not the most impressive statline, but he’s a big body who can provide some extra relief if Butler remains out.

Awaiting Butler’s Return

While the Warriors came away with the victory, they want Butler going forward. He completely turned the team around and is a big reason they’re in the playoffs. The longer he sits out, the more likely the Rockets are to take the series.

Curry can’t be a superhero every night. He’s a great shooter, but Golden State worked hard to get him a number two. Now that Butler’s come alive, they need him back as quickly as possible.

“He’s literally day-to-day,” said head coach Steve Kerr about the star guard

“We have tomorrow off. It will be helpful for him to have another day, and then it’s a night game…So we’ll see. I have no idea right now if he’s going to play.”

While Butler’s eligibility is up in the air, the Warriors now know they can win games without him. That might not be enough to go all the way, but it could be enough to get them to the second round.