Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) falls to the ground after a defensive play under the basket in the first half of game action against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Butler remained out for the rest of the game.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
When the Golden State Warriors lost Jimmy Butler in the first quarter to a pelvic contusion, they played a lineup against the Houston Rockets that they seldom used this season.
The Warriors inserted forward Jonathan Kuminga, who hadn’t played in nearly two weeks, for Butler and guard Pat Spencer for an ailing Brandin Podziemski.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) takes the ball to the basket against Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) and orward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) during the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series at Toyota Center in Houston, Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
It made for an awkward lineup combination and one that lacked the same defensive intensity and offensive prowess Butler brought in Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs.
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The Rockets took advantage of Butler’s absence Wednesday night in a 109-94 win at the Toyota Center, evening the series 1-1 before it shifts to San Francisco.
Before Butler went out with the injury with just under two minutes left in the first quarter, the Rockets led 24-16. They extended that lead to 14 points at halftime and never really looked back.
“Obviously, he’s a huge part of what they do,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “Isolation scorer, cross matches, he likes to hunt those, so you can key in on Curry a little bit more obviously with him not on the court.
“And I think we did that for the most part.”
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Curry looked uncomfortable for a large part of the night. The Rockets used their physicality to get him off his game.
After going for 31 points in Game 1, Curry finished with just 20 points on 6-of-15 shooting and 4-of-9 from 3-point range. He also had six turnovers. The next highest scorers for the Warriors were guard Moses Moody and center Quinten Post, who both had 12 points.
“We got aggressive with him, went after him, tried to make some other guys beat us, and it worked for us,” Udoka said.
The Rockets successfully blitzed Curry on pick and roles, and contested his layups when he got to the basket.
In the third quarter, Curry, who was guarded by guard Fred VanVleet, called for a screen from Warriors forward Kevin Looney.
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As Looney approached, Rockets big man Steven Adams followed him, and instead of staying on Looney, he trapped Curry along with VanVleet. Curry tried to dribble out of the double team, but lost the ball.
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5), Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Rockets center Steven Adams (12) dive for a loose ball during the second half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series at Toyota Center in Houston, Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
The Rockets corralled it, and took it down court for a fast break layup, putting them ahead 79-64 with 3:10 left in the third. In was one of their 10 fastbreak points in the win.
“It shuffled all the rotations a little bit,” Curry said of Butler’s absence. “We put up a good fight but I knew (the Rockets) were selling out again to take my clean looks away. I got a little rushed on certain possessions, trying to go one-on-three or sometimes one-on-four.”
Butler has had a ton of success with isolation plays this season, which has allowed him to get to the free throw line often.
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He had 25 points in the Warriors’ Game 1 victory and was 4-of-6 from the free throw line on Sunday.
His success has taken some of the pressure off Curry offensively, and is one of the reasons the Warriors were able to turn their season around after making the trade. He’s also improved the Warriors’ defense.
But if Butler can’t play in Game 3 because of the injury, then perhaps it provides an opening for the Rockets, who are looking to win their first playoff series since 2020.
Game 2 was a much better representation of who the Rockets want to be: A physical team, that turns defense into offense. The Rockets forced the Warriors into 15 turnovers
“He covers a lot of holes for them,” said VanVleet, who finished with seven points and three steals in 42 minutes. “Without Jimmy, we were just trying to take advantage of the opportunity. And we got ahold of the game.
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“But they keep fighting. That’s a tough ass team to try to beat in the first round. We’ve got to stay locked in.”
It’s unclear if Butler will miss time in the series. He will get an MRI on Thursday to determine the severity of his injury.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said it was far to early in the process to know what lineup he’d use if Butler could not play.
Kuminga, who finished with 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting, is certainly an option.
“If Jimmy is out we have to change everything,” Kerr said. “Rotations, who starts, best combinations and all that stuff.”
VanVleet said the Rockets will have to be prepared for both scenarios. One in case he’s not available, and one in case he is.
“We’ve got to do what we do,” VanVleet said. “I think if we bring our A-game we’ll be alright either way. That’s what we’re focused on.”
