Warriors' Jimmy Butler sustains pelvis contusion, will undergo MRI.

 HOUSTON -- Warriors star Jimmy Butler took a hard fall late in the first quarter of Wednesday's Game 2 against the Rockets, sustaining a pelvis contusion that forced him to exit early. He will undergo an MRI in San Francisco on Thursday.

Butler’s injury came just eight minutes into the game, and his absence was a major blow to the Warriors, who lost 109-94, evening the series at 1-1.

"Obviously, we feel terrible for Jimmy," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "Hopefully, he’s okay. We’ll see."

With Game 3 set for Saturday night at Chase Center, Butler will have two days off to recover. Kerr was asked if Jonathan Kuminga could start in Butler’s place if he is unable to play. Although Kuminga had fallen out of the rotation toward the end of the regular season, he played 26 minutes in Game 2, finishing with 11 points in the loss.

“If Jimmy’s out, we’ll have to rethink everything—rotations, who starts, and the best combinations,” Kerr said.

In the first quarter, with 2:28 remaining, Butler went up for a defensive rebound after Amen Thompson’s missed shot. Thompson collided with Butler, knocking him off balance. Butler fell hard onto his tailbone and immediately showed signs of pain. Thompson, who had been fighting Draymond Green for position, also went down briefly before getting up.

Butler managed to stay in the game long enough to hit one of two free throws but left the court with 1:51 left in the quarter, as the Warriors trailed 24-16. He appeared to be struggling to move and was later ruled out for the rest of the game in the second quarter.

Green said he spoke with Butler after the game, and Butler assured him he would be fine.

"Jimmy’s always going to tell you he feels good," Green said. "We’ll see, but I have no reason not to believe him."

If Butler is sidelined further, it would be a significant blow to Golden State. Since his arrival on February 8, the Warriors had posted a 25-8 record, including regular season, play-in, and postseason games, with Butler revitalizing the team’s play. His presence has taken pressure off Stephen Curry, stabilized the team’s non-Curry minutes, and helped elevate the Warriors' defense to the top of the league.

Butler has elevated his play in the postseason, showcasing his "Playoff Jimmy" form. He dropped 30 points and nine assists in the season finale, followed by 38 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in the play-in win against Memphis. In Game 1, Butler contributed 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals to help the Warriors secure a road win.

Curry, who has experienced similar falls in his career, sympathized with Butler. “I know exactly what that feels like,” Curry said. “It’s just a matter of how bad it is, but it definitely changed the dynamic of our offense.”

Meanwhile, Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski was also limited to just 14 minutes due to illness. Kerr said Podziemski felt unwell from something he ate and received an IV at halftime. He played six minutes in the second half but went 0-for-5 in the game.

The Warriors head back to San Francisco with home-court advantage, but their fate depends on the results of Butler’s MRI. Kerr remained hopeful, saying, "Hopefully Jimmy will be able to play. If not, we’ll have to explore our options and put together a plan."