The Golden State Warriors welcome the Houston Rockets to Chase Center for Game 4 of the first round of the 2024–25 NBA Playoffs, holding a commanding 3–1 series lead thanks to a critical road win in Houston — a game the Rockets played without Jimmy Butler. But will Butler be available for tonight’s matchup?
During Game 2 of the series, Butler suffered a pelvic contusion after a hard fall following midair contact with Rockets rookie Amen Thompson while attempting a rebound. Some initially speculated that Draymond Green had pushed Thompson into Butler, but replays appeared to clear Green of any wrongdoing.
The Warriors were concerned about potentially missing Butler, but Stephen Curry stepped up in heroic fashion. The NBA two-time MVP delivered a standout performance, finishing with 36 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists to help Golden State take control of the series.
Is Jimmy Butler playing tonight vs Rockets?
While there is still uncertainty regarding Butler’s full status, signs point toward a possible return at Chase Center as the Rockets seek to keep their playoff hopes alive. The key question remains: even if Butler plays, will he be 100% — and will he be able to handle his usual heavy minutes load in a physically demanding series?
According to Shams Charania via X (formerly Twitter), Butler is doing everything possible to make his return in Game 4: “Jimmy Butler is doing everything in his power to play tonight. Treatment, on-court workouts over the past 24 hours — he even fully participated in shootaround today. The expectation is that Butler will attempt to play tonight in Game 4,” Charania reported.
“His mobility is improving, but it’s still not perfect. Warriors medical staff and coaches recognize that he won’t be at 100%. Still, Butler is determined to get back with Golden State up 3–1.”
Rockets ready for Butler’s return
After Game 3, Houston point guard Fred VanVleet spoke to reporters about the team’s preparation, emphasizing that the Rockets expected Butler to be available and were ready to adjust accordingly:
“We prepared as if he was going to play,” VanVleet said. “You can’t play that game of guessing who’s in or who’s out. Every time you miss an opportunity to win, it stings. Obviously, Jimmy adds another layer because they’re a different team with him.”
“But credit to Gary Payton II and the rest of the Warriors’ bench. They stepped up tonight. You expect that from a championship-level team. There are no easy matchups left in the playoffs.”