Warriors’ Jimmy Butler exits Game 2 with pelvic injury

The 6-foot-7 swingman landed hard on his tailbone after Houston forward Amen Thompson undercut him beneath the basket, as recapped by Dr. David J. Chao.

Butler finishes the game with three points on 1-of-2 shooting from the floor and 1-of-2 shooting from the free throw line, plus two rebounds, in just eight minutes.

Since Golden State acquired him from Miami in a multi-team blockbuster trade midseason, the team has rallied to emerge as a legitimate title contender. Butler has shored up their defense and given them another major creator alongside incumbent stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. An extended Butler absence could kill the Warriors’ title aspirations.

Another starter also departed the bout in the first half.

Starting Golden State guard Brandin Podziemski is questionable to return after exiting the game with a stomach bug, per the Warriors.

Reserve forward Jonathan Kuminga, who had been booted out of head coach Steve Kerr‘s rotation since the Warriors’ final regular season game this year, is now getting his first playoff run of the postseason. Guard Pat Spencer is seeing some action in the rotation thanks to the absence of Podziemski.