Jimmy Butler is probably the only player with enough offensive talent and the leadership skills necessary to keep the Golden State Warriors' championship hopes alive, as the team travels to Minnesota for an elimination game on Wednesday night, May 14.
Butler very nearly carried Golden State to a Game 3 victory at Chase Center, dropping in 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. However, his production and usage rate dipped severely in Game 4. The Warriors took a one-possession lead into halftime before the Timberwolves blew them off the floor in the third quarter and grabbed a 3-1 lead in the series.
Media members questioned and criticized Butler, perhaps rightly so, after the defeat. But, as it turns out, the 35-year-old forward who led the Miami Heat to two NBA Finals appearances in recent years was battling an ailment that hurt his play on Monday night in San Francisco.
"Steve Kerr called Jimmy Butler's illness yesterday 'definitely impactful,'" Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported via X on Tuesday, May 13. "He went from 26 shots in [Game 3] to nine in [Game 4]. Kerr: 'But he's feeling better, and he'll be ready to go tomorrow.' Steph Curry remains out but did make the trip with the team."
Golden State opened as a 10.5-point underdog in Minneapolis for Game 5, per ESPN BET. The betting outlook has since gotten worse for the Warriors, who are now 11.5-point underdogs less than 24 hours from tipoff at the Target Center.