The Golden State Warriors might be missing a key piece yet again as Jimmy Butler is officially listed as questionable for Game 4 against the Houston Rockets on Monday night at Chase Center.
Butler, a six-time All-Star, took a brutal fall while battling for a defensive rebound early in Game 2, forcing him out of action and leading to a deep glute contusion diagnosis. He was sidelined for Game 3 — a tough blow, yet the Warriors managed to rally without him, securing a gritty 104-93 win to take a 2-1 series lead.
Now, all eyes are on whether Butler can suit up for what could be a pivotal Game 4. The Warriors would love to have their star back to help them put a stranglehold on the series — but thanks to their Game 3 victory, they also have the luxury of playing it safe with the veteran forward if needed.
Saturday night’s lineup shuffle gave us a glimpse. Jonathan Kuminga slid into the starting five in Butler’s place, and in a surprising twist, Moses Moody’s streak of 31 straight starts came to an end as Steve Kerr opted to go big, inserting rookie center Quinten Post.
However, when it mattered most — the fourth quarter — Kerr leaned on different faces. Kuminga never saw the floor, Post played just a handful of minutes, and instead it was Moody, Buddy Hield, and Gary Payton II who powered the Warriors through a dominant final stretch. Payton, in particular, was electric, scoring 11 points in the fourth alone, much of it set up beautifully by Stephen Curry’s gravitational pull on offense.
So if Butler sits again, does Kerr stick with the group that closed Game 3 so strongly? Moody could reclaim his starting role, or perhaps Payton, after his fourth-quarter heroics, gets the nod over Kuminga. Payton’s chemistry with Curry — highlighted by three assisted buckets in crunch time — could be too good to ignore.
Meanwhile, although Post struggled to find his shot (just 1-for-7 from the field), he made his presence felt elsewhere, hauling in a career-high 12 rebounds, dishing out four assists, and locking down Amen Thompson, who shot a rough 5-for-16 from the floor.
At the end of the day, the Warriors are hoping Butler’s ready to roll, because while Curry carried them on Saturday, asking him to do it alone the rest of the series might be asking for trouble.
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