Jimmy Butler suffers serious knee injury in Warriors – Heat game

The Golden State Warriors experienced moments of anguish during their 135-112 victory against the Miami Heat. Jimmy Butler, who was facing his former team, suffered a serious right knee injury in the third quarter and had to be carried off the court by his teammates.

A fall that raises worst fears

The incident occurred at 7 minutes and 41 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Butler was attempting to receive a pass in the paint when he collided with Davion Mitchell of the Heat. The Warriors forward landed very awkwardly on his right leg, causing a knee twist that immediately made him collapse.

The images are particularly concerning. Butler remained on the floor for several minutes, holding his right knee and screaming in pain. The Chase Center fell silent while his teammates surrounded him. He was eventually helped by Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga to return to the locker room, unable to put any weight on his right leg.

A concerning history for Butler

This injury is all the more concerning as Butler has already had problems with this same right knee. He suffered a meniscus tear in 2018 and a cruciate ligament sprain in 2024. The Warriors immediately announced he would miss the rest of the game.

Before his exit, Butler was having an excellent performance with 17 points in 21 minutes of play, shooting 6/11 from the field, along with 4 assists and 3 rebounds. The former Heat player was averaging 21.3 points in January with 53% shooting accuracy.

PLAYER PROFILE

Jimmy BUTLER

Position(s): Forward

Height: 201 cm

Age: 36 years (09/14/1989)

Nationality:

Stats 2025-2026 / NBA

PTS

20

#42

REB

5.6

#92

AST

4.8

#52

Warriors respond despite absence of their star

Paradoxically, Butler’s injury galvanized the Warriors collective. Led by Stephen Curry (19 points, 11 assists) and an excellent Brandin Podziemski (24 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists), Golden State went on a 15-2 run against Miami after their star’s departure to extend the lead (92-77).

This victory allows the Warriors to string together a fourth consecutive win, a first this season. But concern remains high regarding Butler’s condition, who is averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season. If the injury proves serious, it could compromise the playoff ambitions of a team currently eighth in the West with a record of 24 wins and 19 losses.

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