The Golden State Warriors took care of business, beating the Miami Heat 135-112 at Chase Center. The numbers showed a comfortable win. The building told a different story. Midway through the third quarter, Jimmy Butler went down holding his right knee. The scream cut through the arena, stopping everything.
From that moment, the game felt secondary. Butler could not put weight on his leg as Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II helped him to the locker room. Fans watched in silence. Players stood still. The Warriors ruled him out minutes later and confirmed he would undergo an MRI.
Stephen Curry’s Postgame Comment on Jimmy Butler Draws Attention
Post-game, Curry spoke with reporters inside the Warriors locker room. He had not spoken to Butler directly, but he shared what he noticed during the chaotic moment on the floor.
“He was still cracking jokes over there while he was on the ground,” Curry said during his postgame media availability. “In true Jimmy fashion, he’s always gonna have a good time no matter what the situation is. He was trying to get to the FT line. He said it was two shots.”
“He (Jimmy) was still cracking jokes over there while he was on the ground. In true Jimmy fashion, always gonna have a good time no matter what the situation is… He was trying to get to the FT line. He said it was two shots.”
Steph said Jimmy was cracking jokes after he got… pic.twitter.com/5b1jhgiebN
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) January 20, 2026
Steph said that JB was joking around with the team even after suffering the injury. That energy is typical of Butler, who has built a presence as one of the toughest players in the league.
Curry balanced that light moment with concern. He alludes to reporters that you never want to see an athlete in pain, especially someone known for toughness. He said he was praying for the best as the team waited for scans.
HC Steve Kerr echoed that tone after the game Speaking to reporters at Chase Center, Kerr described the locker room mood in one word. “Subdued,” he said. “Waiting to hear the news.”
The news broke the next day. ESPN insider Shams Charania reported that Butler suffered a torn right ACL. His season ended immediately.
The injury changed everything for the Warriors. Butler entered the game averaging 20.1 points through 37 games. He finished Monday night with 17 points, four assists, and two steals in just 21 minutes. The Warriors had won four straight games. Butler drove that run on both ends of the floor.
Curry’s quote now carries more weight. It showed Butler’s personality. It also showed how athletes cope in shocking moments. Humor does not erase pain. It just delays it.
Golden State now waits for a different fight. Rehab replaces momentum. Hope replaces certainty. The win faded fast. The comment stayed. And the loss of Jimmy Butler may define the Warriors’ season.
