Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler tore the ACL in his right knee, ending his 2025 season.
Sources told ESPN, The Athletic and NBC Sports Bay Area about the injury, which Butler sustained in the third quarter of a 135-112 win over the Miami Heat on Monday in San Francisco.
The veteran guard totaled 17 points, including 13 in the first quarter. The Warriors led 77-75 at the start of Butler's injury sequence, which occurred with about 7:41 remaining in the third quarter.
Butler hauled in a pass from guard Brandin Podziemski at the start of the play. He them faked toward the rim, but his right knee buckled and he fell to the ground. Butler screamed in pain and trainers attended to him. He exited and did not return.
"You never like to see a situation like that, especially with somebody as tough as he is," Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who totaled 19 points and 11 assists, told reporters. "I'm praying for the best, obviously."
Podziemski made 9 of 19 shot attempts for a game-high 24 points for the Warriors. Fellow guard Buddy Hield and center Quinten post chipped in 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Butler, 36, averaged 20 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game through his first 38 starts this season. The 15-year veteran recorded 17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game over 55 starts last season, which he split between the Heat and Warriors.
He is set to make $56.8 million in 2026-27, the final year of his contract with the Warriors.
The Warriors (25-19), who are on a four-game winning streak, sit in eighth place in the Western Conference. They will host the Toronto Raptors (25-19) at 10 p.m. EST Tuesday at Chase Center.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (C) celebrates with teammates after the Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings in Game 7 to win the World Series in Toronto on November 1, 2025. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo