Golden State Warriors star forward Jimmy Butler suffered a right knee injury during Monday night’s game against the Miami Heat and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game.
Butler was helped off the court and back to the locker room by teammates Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga, an ominous sign.
Knee injuries are always a concern, and Butler has a bit of a history with his right knee:
The Dubs were already dealing with injuries to Draymond Green, Gui Santos and Kuminga, leaving them incredibly thin at the forward position if Butler’s injury ends up being serious.
Butler’s loss is a particularly devastating one, at least if it’s a long-term injury. The 36-year-old is averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game this season, shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from three. Without him, Steph Curry will be left to take on a huge offensive burden.
The Warriors came into the night with a 24-19 record, eighth in the Western Conference. Staying in playoff positioning will be a far taller task if Butler is forced to miss significant time.
