Warriors’ Jimmy Butler exits with knee injury: ‘Praying for the best’

The Warriors got the win Monday night. That part almost felt secondary.

Jimmy Butler suffered a right knee injury midway through the third quarter against Miami and did not return, according to NBC Sports Bay Area. The play was awkward and concerning from the start.

Butler was bumped in the air while catching a pass and came down hard on his right knee.

He immediately yelled out in pain and stayed on the floor for several minutes before being helped off, unable to put weight on the leg. The scene alone told most of the story.

An MRI is underway, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater, and that is where all of this now sits. Waiting.

That wait matters because Butler’s right knee already has mileage. He tore his meniscus in 2018 and sprained his MCL last season. This is not unfamiliar territory, which only heightens the concern.

“Praying for the best, as far as scans,” Stephen Curry said afterward.

Golden State improved to 25-19 with the win and has been trending in the right direction. Butler has been a major reason why, averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while shooting better than 51 percent from the field.

He is also 36, under contract through 2026-27, and owed more than $110 million over this season and next.

The Warriors have lived this movie before. When a season pivots, it usually starts with a moment like this one.