SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler tore his right ACL in a season-ending injury in Monday night’s 135-112 victory against the Miami Heat at Chase Center, ESPN reported on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
The Warriors were leading 77-75 with 7:41 remaining in the third quarter at the time of the injury stoppage.
Butler jumped to receive a lob pass from guard Brandin Podziemski and was met with contact from Heat guard Davion Mitchell as Butler was landing and going up for a layup.
It appeared as if Butler’s knee buckled as he immediately fell to the ground before being tended to by the Warriors’ medical staff.
Butler, though grimacing in pain, smiled as he was being helped off the floor by teammates Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II.
Warriors teammate Stephen Curry said Butler was still cracking jokes as he was down on the ground in pain.
‘True Jimmy fashion,’ Curry told reporters. ‘He’s always going to have a good time no matter what the situation is. I do love that perspective and that part of his personality. Even in the worst of the moment he can still have a good time.’
Curry added: ‘(Butler) was trying to get to the free throw line. He said it was two shots.’
Butler left the game with 17 points, on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, four assists and two steals in 21 minutes. He immediately received an MRI after the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters.
‘We’re all really concerned, but we’ll know more after the MRI. We don’t know anything at this point,’ Kerr said immediately after the game.
Kerr was proud of how the team responded following the injury to Butler.
‘It was great. The guys played really well, a lot of guys stepped up and shot the lights out,’ he said. ‘(We) did a good job of taking care of the ball. It was a very physical game. That’s a big, strong team. They had 20 offensive boards but we battled really well, all night.’
Podziemski led the way for Golden State with 24 points on 9-of-19 shooting from the field. Curry had a double-double with 19 points and 11 assists.
‘If (Jimmy) is out then it’s the same kind of mentality as tonight, everybody step up a little bit in his absence’ Podziemski told USA TODAY. ‘We’ll have Melt (De’Anthony Melton), Dray (Draymond Green) and Gui (Santos) back, so that’ll help as well. Hopefully it’s nothing too bad, but if it is we gotta go out there and roll with the guys we have.’
The Warriors received a team contribution as seven players scored in double-figures.
Quinten Post had 15. Moses Moody scored 13. Buddy Hield dropped 16, including hitting four threes off the bench. Al Horford added 10.
Next man up, even Jonathan Kuminga?
Kerr praised the ability to go down the bench and have guys step in and step up.
‘The depth of the team has really shined here in this homestand,’ Kerr said. ‘Al (Horford) played another great game. Obviously, Buddy (Hield) has stepped up the last two games being back in the rotation, which doesn’t surprise me at all the way he stay prepared and stays ready. BP (Podziemski) was amazing. Hit some really tough shots to close the game out. A lot guys are playing well, with a lot of confidence.’
With Butler out, Golden State will need to rely on their depth.
Considering the recent loss to Butler, Kerr didn’t rule out a possible Kuminga sighting.
‘Sure, absolutely,’ Kerr said, when asked about playing Kuminga in light of Butler’s injury.
Kerr confirmed to reporters that Kuminga is ready to go and he’s been practicing with the team.
Warriors injury report
Before Butler’s injury, Golden State already had three players sit out due to injury for Monday’s game against the Miami Heat.
Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton was out due to left knee injury management, while Draymond Green sat out with a right ankle sprain.
Seth Curry remains out with left sciatic nerve irritation.
Jimmy Butler season stats
Here are Jimmy Butler’s 2025-26 regular-season statistics:
- Minutes: 31.1
- Points: 20.0
- Rebounds: 5.6
- Assists: 4.9
- Steals: 1.4
- Field goal: 51.9%
- 3-point field goal: 37.6%
Jimmy Butler contract
Butler, 36, arrived in the Bay Area from Miami nearly a year ago on Feb. 6, 2025, as a result of a five-team trade that sent Detroit Pistons’ Kenyon Martin Jr. and a 2028 second round pick to the Utah Jazz for Dennis Schroder, Lindy Waters III and a 2031 second round pick.
That same day, Butler signed a maximum two-year, $110.96 million contract extension with Golden State.
Andrew Wiggins receives tribute in return to Golden State
The Warriors traded Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a 2025 first round pick to Miami in the trade for Butler.
Wiggins played his former team for the first time in San Francisco on Monday night since being traded. He scored 18 points in 27 minutes on 6-of-14 shooting.
The Warriors had a tribute video dedicated to Wiggins, who was an integral part of the 2022 NBA championship that Golden State won in six games against the Boston Celtics.
“I really enjoyed the tribute,’ Wiggins said. ‘I definitely meant a lot. You know, all the love in the building, all the excitement, and all the old faces. Everything that comes with it. It was great. This is a game, a moment I’ll cherish. You know, you don’t, you don’t get too many of these.”
Curry, who also had a cameo in the tribute video, had positive remarks for Wiggins and his return to the Bay Area during his postgame comments.
‘You can’t help but smile when you see Wigs. He just has a presence about him,’ Curry said. ‘I loved the celebration at the end. It seems so long ago but you realized how much he meant to our organization over the years, especially with that championship and him being his first time back. I’m glad he got the reception he deserved because he will be a legend in Warriors history for a lot of reasons.”
Also in that trade that sent Wiggins to the Heat for Butler was a 2026 second round pick and cash from Miami to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Davion Mitchell. Miami also traded Josh Richardson, a 2031 second round pick and cash to the Jazz. At the time, Utah traded P.J. Tucker to the Raptors.
Warriors vs. Heat highlights
Warriors next five games
- Jan. 20: vs. Toronto Raptors
- Jan. 22: @ Dallas Mavericks
- Jan. 24: @ Minnesota Timberwolves
- Jan. 26: @ Minnesota Timberwolves
- Jan. 28: @ Utah Jazz