It was a disastrous game for the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night as they looked to take a commanding 2-0 lead over the Houston Rockets in their first round series.

Golden State got off to a cold start to the game as they scored just 18 points in the first quarter as Houston led by 10 at the end of one.

Disaster also struck for the Warriors towards the end of the first quarter as their superstar forward Jimmy Butler left the game and never returned after suffering a pelvic contusion on a hard fall during a rebound attempt.

Jimmy Butler went to the locker room after taking this hard fall in the 1st Q. https://t.co/QDauOoDaQ0pic.twitter.com/amfd44VObd

Jimmy Butler went to the locker room after taking this hard fall in the 1st Q. https://t.co/QDauOoDaQ0 pic.twitter.com/amfd44VObd

— Sports Injury Central (@SICscore) April 24, 2025

With Butler sidelined and Brandin Podziemski limited due to an illness, the Warriors were never able to make a comeback as they fell to the Rockets 109-94.

Golden State will now return to The Bay for Game 3 on Saturday, but they may be without Butler depending on how severe his injury is, which should be known after his MRI on Thursday.

In Butler’s absence after his injury late in the first quarter, head coach Steve Kerr elected to replace him with Jonathan Kuminga, who made his 2025 playoff debut and finished with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes.

Of course, Kuminga had been benched by Kerr for Golden State’s last three games but with Butler sidelined, Kerr decided that it was time for him to be reinserted into the lineup.

After the game, Kerr was asked if Kuminga will take Butler’s spot in the rotation if he is out for an extended period.

“We’ll see how it all plays out,” Kerr said.

“If Jimmy’s out we’ll have to rethink everything.” Steve Kerr was asked if Kuminga will take Jimmy Butler’s spot in the rotation if his injury keeps him out:

KERR: “We’ll see how it all plays out. If Jimmy’s out we’ll have to rethink everything … ” pic.twitter.com/c1Z3PdpbEW

Steve Kerr was asked if Kuminga will take Jimmy Butler's spot in the rotation if his injury keeps him out:

KERR: "We'll see how it all plays out. If Jimmy's out we'll have to rethink everything … " pic.twitter.com/c1Z3PdpbEW

— KNBR (@KNBR) April 24, 2025

This is a massive statement by Kerr who never gave a clear answer to the question.

Despite Kerr’s statement, Kuminga is expected to replace Butler in the rotation, but that could change if Kerr decides to try out a different lineup.

Of course, the focus now turns to Butler’s MRI on Thursday before Kerr has to make a decision heading into Game 3 on Saturday at home.