"The doctor believes the best case for Jimmy Butler's knee injury could be a sprain or a partial tear in his knee, mentioning an MCL injury as an optimal outcome, while also noting that he could be facing a severe ACL injury in the worst-case scenario.
Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler suffered what appears to be a serious knee injury in a 135–112 win against the Miami Heat on Monday night.
Butler exited the game with 7:41 left in the third quarter. He landed awkwardly after catching a pass, went down, and grabbed his right knee in pain. He was immediately escorted off the court as Warriors fans held their breath inside Chase Center.
The Warriors have not yet released an official update on Butler’s knee. He is set to undergo an MRI on Tuesday. From an outside expert’s perspective, however, it could be a severe injury that might potentially end his season.
Sports medicine doctor Brian Sutterer, in a video breakdown of Butler’s injury, noted that in the worst-case scenario, Butler could be facing a serious ACL injury. In the best-case scenario, he might have only a sprain or a partial tear, with a possible MCL injury as a more favorable outcome.
“Best-case scenario: it could be a sprain or a partial tear. The MCL, located on the inside of the knee, could also be involved, which would be a more optimal outcome. Meniscus tears can accompany ACL injuries, but the ACL is our main concern,” Sutterer said in his breakdown.
“Another worrying factor is Butler’s reaction. Players often feel a pop when they tear an ACL, and you can see how quickly Butler reacted as his knee went inward. He didn’t get hit, so this reaction strongly suggests a significant knee injury.”
“To recap: trunk leaning over the affected side, foot landing relatively flat and straight, high ground reaction force, knee buckling inward with rotation—all high-risk for an ACL tear,” Sutterer added.
Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler
MIN: 31.1
PTS: 20 (65.24%)
REB: 5.58
AS: 4.87
ST: 1.45
BL: 0.21
TO: 1.58
GM: 38
“I hope I’m wrong. Initial physical exams are usually reliable before swelling sets in. This is about 15–20 minutes post-injury, so the team likely already has a sense of knee stability. Reports about significant concern often come from these early exams, like the Lachman test or anterior drawer test, which assess ACL integrity,” he noted.
Before exiting the game, the star forward tallied 17 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals in 21 minutes.
Over the course of his career, Butler has endured two serious right knee injuries. A meniscus tear required surgery in 2018, while an MCL sprain kept him out of Miami’s playoff run in 2024.
The Warriors can only hope that Butler did not sustain a serious injury that will sideline him for an extended period.
In 38 appearances this season, Butler has averaged 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.
Meanwhile, after their latest win against the Heat, the Warriors are currently sitting eighth in the Western Conference with a 25–19 record.
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