Jimmy Butler suffers apparent serious knee injury: Warriors star helped to locker room during game
Butler left the Warriors-Heat game during the third quarter
By
Brad Botkin
•
1 min read
Any hope the Golden State Warriors had of making a run into the postseason might have just come to an abrupt halt as Jimmy Butler went down Monday night with what appeared to be a serious knee injury in a game against the Miami Heat.
With 7:41 left in the third quarter, Brandin Podziemski tried to float a post entry pass over the top to Butler, who had his man sealed; however, as he went up for the catch, Davion Mitchell collided with Butler, who came down awkwardly on his right leg.
The immediate pain felt by Butler and the seriousness of the injury were obvious.
Jimmy Butler had to be helped to the locker room after appearing to injury his knee pic.twitter.com/sOSpAxbbAP
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 20, 2026
One can hear Butler scream in pain immediately, and he was unable to put any weight on the leg as teammates helped him to the locker room.
All the Warriors said on Monday night is that Butler suffered a "knee injury," though there is fear throughout the franchise that he tore his ACL. He is headed for an MRI.
Jimmy Butler is getting an MRI on his right knee, per Warriors.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 20, 2026
Steph Curry: "Praying for the best, as far as scans."
If Butler's season is over, Golden State's campaign would be as well. The Warriors were already going to have to go on a big second-half run to crawl above the play-in line, but without Butler, who was in the middle of a terrific season, there is no chance they can do anything in the playoffs, even if they were to somehow qualify.
The best-case scenario for Butler would be a hyperextension or MCL sprain. Perhaps that would give him a chance to return this season. Anything more than that would likely impact Golden State's trade deadline plans.
