When your top two stars are 37 years old, like Stephen Curry, and 35 years old, like Jimmy Butler, you have to expect that there will be bumps and bruises by the time the playoffs come around. That has, in fact, been the case for the Warriors, who have been led by 25.5 points per game from Curry and 14.0 points from Butler in two postseason games.
On Friday, the Warriors had both Curry and Butler on the NBA‘s official injury report, which came out at 5:30 p.m. ET. The opening-round Western Conference playoff series between Houston and the Warriors is tied at 1-1 as the series heads back to San Francisco for Game 3.
While the news has been good for Curry, who aggravated a season-long thumb injury last week, it’s a lot more murky for Butler. Curry is listed as available, but Butler is questionable with what the report calls, “Left Pelvic; Contusion.”
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30)
Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Butler suffered a deep bruise on his glute in Game 2 in Houston, when he landed awkwardly after being undercut on a rebound by Rockets second-year man Amen Thompson. There has been some back-and-forth between the teams about the legality of the play from Thompson.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said it was not a dirty play, as he saw it, though.
“I asked our guys behind the bench—they just said it looked like there was some physicality on the rebound. And I think Thompson just inadvertently found himself underneath Jimmy just based on the tug of war that was going on there,” Kerr said.
For Butler, the “questionable” designation officially means the Warriors deem him as having a 50-50 chance of playing in Game 3.
Also questionable for Game 3 is Warriors guard Gary Payton II, who has a right shoulder strain. Payton has appeared in both games for the Warriors, posting seven points in 28 total minutes.
Houston reserves Jock Landale and Jae’Sean Tate are both officially out.
Game 3 is Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET, and will be aired on ESPN.