HOUSTON — Jimmy Butler has consistently likened Stephen Curry to Batman, portraying himself as the hypothetical Robin in their duo. However, Butler’s unexpected pelvic bruise in Game 2 of the Western Conference playoffs against the Houston Rockets raised the question of who would step up next to Curry if Butler couldn’t compete. When asked, Curry admitted his limited comic book knowledge, simply emphasizing that the team needed to find a way to win regardless.
And win they did. Despite Butler’s absence, Curry took center stage during Saturday night’s Game 3, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 104-93 victory over the Rockets. His impressive performance included 36 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds across nearly 41 minutes of play. With this win, the Warriors seized a 2-1 advantage in the seven-game series, setting their sights on Game 4 back at Chase Center come Monday.
Coach Steve Kerr remains uncertain about Butler’s return timeline given his critical role since joining the team from the Miami Heat in February, contributing to their 25-9 record. Initially deemed questionable for Game 3, Butler was ultimately sidelined following an MRI that confirmed the presence of both a pelvic injury and a severe muscle contusion.
Curry underscored the importance of team effort in Butler’s absence, praising Jonathan Kuminga as a pivotal player in their strategy. Despite the decline in Kuminga’s role post-Butler’s arrival, fate thrust him back into play as a starter for the fourth time in his playoff career.
Curry recounted how swiftly Kuminga adapted when Butler got hurt, “As soon as Jimmy went down, I actually saw him on the bench and gave him a little love and knew he was going to get his number called pretty quickly,” Curry shared. “That is the nature of this league. We talk about it all the time. It’s just hard to know and predict when it’s going to be.”
The absence of Butler has prompted the Warriors to devise strategies that can divert defenders away from Curry, a frequent target for double teams. Coach Steve Kerr emphasizes that spacing on the court is crucial in executing this plan.
Game 1 saw Curry net 31 points while Butler added 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. However, Butler’s limited playtime of only eight minutes in Game 2 allowed the Rockets to double down on Curry, constraining him to 20 points on a 6-of-15 shooting record.
Houston coach Ime Udoka mentioned that the Rockets readied themselves in anticipation of Butler’s participation, remaining vigilant regardless of his actual presence on the court Saturday. “They still do what they do, it just takes away a scoring option, a facilitator in some isolations,” Udoka reflected. He acknowledged the Warriors’ inherent danger but assessed that without Butler, their roster is one key player short.
Known to be a thorn in Houston’s side during past playoff encounters, Curry has been part of the Warriors team which knocked the Rockets out of the postseason four times between 2015-19, including two notable clashes in the Western Conference finals.
Saturday marked Curry’s 150th playoff game, boasting averages of 27 points, 6.2 assists, and 5.3 rebounds across his playoff tenure. By reaching 4,053 career playoff points, Curry surpassed Tony Parker to rank tenth in NBA playoff scoring history.
In Butler’s potential continued absence, Curry is primed to shoulder additional responsibilities, focusing on creating shot opportunities and keeping the Warriors in contention. He encouraged teammates to keep the game straightforward and adapt as necessary.
“It’s just normal basketball,” Curry remarked, urging simplicity. “It’s just a matter of can we do it consistently enough, make enough shots? I don’t think it’s too much rocket science. You’ve just got to be able to do it.”