The vibes were tense. The overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers stung badly, but it was Jimmy Butler III’s limp off the floor that had Golden State Warriors fans holding their breath.
With the play-in tournament on deck and postseason hopes hanging in the balance, the Warriors’ emotional backbone and clutch king offered an update that calmed the storm. Well, sort of.
“I’ll Be Alright”: Butler Shrugs Off Thigh Scare
Late in the fourth quarter against the Clippers, Butler was seen favoring his thigh after a tough sequence under the basket. Limping noticeably, he gutted through the pain and stayed on the floor during crunch time, logging an exhausting 48 minutes.
Butler dropped 30 points and went on to grab nine boards. But the effort wasn’t enough to prevent a 124-119 OT defeat.
Still, when asked postgame about the apparent injury, Butler delivered his trademark mix of humor and grit.
“I’ll be alright,” Butler said, brushing off concern. “Go home and play some dominoes and drink some coffee that’ll make it feel better.” Classic Butler.
He didn’t provide much detail, but his relaxed demeanor suggests it’s nothing that’ll keep him off the court in what’s arguably their biggest game of the year.
Stakes High As Warriors Set for Grizzlies Showdown
The Warriors’ loss to the Clippers dropped them to the 7th seed, meaning they’ll now face the Memphis Grizzlies (8th seed) in the first Western Conference play-in game at Chase Center.
Win that? They punch a ticket to a first-round clash with the Houston Rockets. Lose? It gets dicey. Golden State would then have to face the winner of the Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks (9-10) matchup for the right to challenge the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“We’re right where we want to be,” Butler said postgame. “We still control our own fate. We’re going to be just fine.”
Butler, who hasn’t missed the postseason since 2016, brings both experience and swagger that few in the league can match. And his confidence, even after a painful-looking injury, speaks volumes about how locked-in this Warriors squad is heading into the pressure cooker.
While the Warriors haven’t won a playoff series since 2022, a healthy and motivated Butler could be the x-factor they need to make a deep run. His leadership, both vocal and physical, continues to anchor a team fighting to prove it’s still a contender.
Now it’s time to see if Golden State can ride that Butler fire into another postseason chapter. Well, banged-up thigh and all, you know he’ll bring the fight.
