Warriors commend Butler’s ‘huge’ effort despite injury in Game 4 victory

In Game 4, Draymond Green initially thought Jimmy Butler was limited by a pelvic and gluteal muscle contusion injury, which had kept him out of Game 3. However, in a crucial fourth quarter, Butler showcased his resilience by scoring 14 of his 27 points and pulling down a key defensive rebound from three Rockets players. This helped the Golden State Warriors secure a 109-106 victory, putting the Houston Rockets on the brink of elimination.

Despite still appearing to be in pain from a fall on his tailbone during Game 2, Butler’s return was a game-changer for the Warriors, bringing them within one win of advancing to the Western Conference semifinals. Green praised Butler’s determination, saying, “He played through the injury… his presence is humongous. The first three quarters, he couldn’t move. But in the fourth, he stuck with it.” Green noted how crucial Butler’s ability to make plays for himself and others was during the game. He also praised Butler’s game-saving rebound in the final moments, which led to a clutch performance.

The Warriors had trailed by four points with 4:20 remaining, but after a pivotal stop by Green and Butler’s rebound, the momentum shifted. Despite a strong showing by Alperen Sengun, who finished with 31 points and 10 rebounds, the Rockets struggled in the final minutes, shooting just 3-of-16 when Green defended Sengun. A critical missed shot by Sengun with 6.4 seconds left allowed Butler to grab the rebound and seal the win with free throws.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged Butler’s pain, stating, “If this were the regular season, he’d probably miss another week or two. But it’s the playoffs, and this is what Jimmy does.” Butler himself admitted to the pain but emphasized that it was “winning time” in the fourth quarter. Despite a heated exchange with Dillon Brooks, Butler’s grit led Golden State to a vital win, setting them up for Game 5 in Houston. Kerr knows the importance of closing out a tough opponent like Houston, saying, “Game 5 will be the toughest one yet.”