According to a report by National NBA reporter Mat Issa of Sportscasting, a source close to Jimmy Butler said the Golden State Warriors star “will play” in Game 3 of the Dubs first-round series against the Houston Rockets. There have been positive signs coming out of the Warriors and Butler’s camp over the last couple days after MRIs confirmed the 35-year old forward had avoided a more severe injury in Game 2.

Yet it seems like Butler won’t be out very long. A source close to the situation told Sportscasting that Butler has avoided serious injury and he intends to play Game 3 against the Rockets Saturday night.

“Jimmy will play,” the source told Sportscasting.

While Issa is not one of the big name news breakers in NBA media circles, he is a credentialed NBA reporter who has previously reported scoops. Given the hopeful tone Warriors head coach Steve Kerr used to talk about Butler on Friday, it appears to be a credible report.

After splitting the first two games of the series in Houston, the Warriors will look to capitalize on their home-court advantage in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. Butler’s return would be a significant boon to those chances, although it remains to be seen if his play will be limited by the injury.

Butler is not the only Warriors play who should make a bigger impact in Game 3 than Game 2. Brandin Podziemski was limited to just 14 minutes in Game 2 by a stomach flu that clearly zapped him of significant energy. He missed all his field-goal attempts and failed to record a rebound. He is not listed on the injury report for Game 3 and will hopefully be back at 100%.