SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors star Jimmy Butler will play in Monday night’s Game 4 against the Houston Rockets.
Butler was listed as questionable with a pelvic contusion, but he and the Warriors expect him to return, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, after he missed Saturday’s Game 3. He participated fully in the morning shootaround, Charania reported.
Butler was listed in the starting lineup less than an hour before tipoff.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr did not confirm Butler would play after going through warmups, but said he was “hopeful” the superstar wing would be in the rotation. He said Butler participated in shootaround and went through a walkthrough.
“He’s not on a minutes restriction (if he plays). It’ll be based on how he’s feeling,” Kerr said.
Butler was hurt in the first quarter of Game 2 when he landed hard on his backside after leaping for a rebound and being undercut by Houston’s Amen Thompson. He left the game shortly thereafter and was questionable for Game 3 before ultimately sitting out.
The Warriors won Game 3 at Chase Center on Saturday night, 104-93, as Butler looked on from the bench in street clothes with a pelvic injury and glute contusion and Golden State took a 2-1 lead in the series.
On Sunday, Kerr told media that Butler was questionable for Monday’s Game 4. Kerr said there is “much more reasonable” chance Butler will play on Monday after Butler has been working with team medical expert Rick Celebrini.
“I trust those guys and trust Jimmy, and we’ll see if he can go tonight,” Kerr said.
In Butler’s absence, Curry scored 36 points and played 41 minutes during Game 4. Kerr said that if Butler came back, he hoped Curry would not have to carry such a heavy load.
“If Jimmy plays tonight and looks like himself, hopefully we can get that down to 35 minutes,” Kerr said.
The Warriors’ season turned around upon Butler’s arrival as they went 23-8 the rest of the regular season after he played his first game for them Feb. 8 in Chicago. After Saturday’s game, they’re now 1-1 without him.
Butler averaged 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game in the regular season, and his impact went beyond the box score. After the trade, the Warriors had the top defense in the league according to defensive rating (109.0).
The Warriors won Game 1 in Houston after Butler scored 25 points and had five steals, but lost Game 2 109-94.
Steph Curry and Gary Payton II are both listed on the Warriors’ injury report as available. Curry has been dealing with a right thumb injury for months, and Payton also has a left thumb issue.
With Butler back, that puts Jonathan Kuminga’s place in the rotation into question.
The fourth-year forward had been a healthy scratch for three consecutive games until Butler’s injury. He then played 26 minutes in Game 2, and started in Game 3.
