Jimmy Butler’s Game 3 status is turning into a Warriors mystery

Jimmy Butler whitethorn beryllium an undefined portion of nan equation for Game 3 of nan Warriors-Rockets playoff series.

“Golden State’s Jimmy Butler has been diagnosed pinch a heavy glute musculus contusion and his position for Game 3 against nan Houston Rockets is successful superior jeopardy,” ESPN insider Shams Charania reported Thursday night.

This was nan first study of Butler’s wellness aft he suffered a hard, scary autumn successful Game 2 that forced him retired of nan title early. Butler played conscionable 7 minutes successful nan nonaccomplishment that tied nan bid 1-1, arsenic galore wondered if he would return for Game 3, aliases astatine each successful nan bid against Houston.

But Friday afternoon, chap ESPN newsman Ohm Youngmisuk said that Warriors caput coach Steve Kerr is “relatively optimistic” that Butler plays connected Saturday.

“I deliberation there’s a chance he plays,” Kerr said.

Kerr’s speculation adds clarity to nan remainder of Charania’s report, which said that nan result of Butler’s wounded was “best case” arsenic he “avoided immoderate fracture aliases structural damage.”

So while returning for Game 3 is still up successful nan air, Butler’s position for nan remainder of nan bid seems to beryllium successful a overmuch amended position than galore initially expected.

The Warriors will request a speedy betterment from Butler arsenic they person been astatine their champion since acquiring him from nan Heat astatine nan waste and acquisition deadline successful February.

Butler played his first crippled for Golden State connected Feb. 8 erstwhile nan 25-26 Warriors improved to .500 pinch a 21-point triumph complete nan Bulls.

From sitting a crippled beneath .500, Golden State past closed nan play 23-8 to decorativeness 48-34 and gain nan No. 7 seed successful a tightly competitory Western Conference. 

The 35-year-old Butler has missed conscionable 1 crippled since joining nan Warriors — a 126-119 nonaccomplishment against 1 of his erstwhile teams, nan 76ers.

So, while Golden State has been a well-oiled instrumentality since acquiring Butler, playing without him is fundamentally uncharted territory. 

Stephen Curry projects to person an moreover bigger violative load connected his shoulders — whether Butler plays aliases not considering that he whitethorn not beryllium 100 percent regardless.

“Pray for nan bear,” Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee said. 

This building was popularized by Kobe Bryant erstwhile he wrote successful 2013: “If you spot maine successful a conflict pinch a bear, believe for nan bear.”

While Butler’s position is successful question, his supplier seems to connote that Butler is much than fresh to conflict nan carnivore — different known successful this lawsuit arsenic nan Houston Rockets.