The Warriors cruised past Miami on Monday night, but nobody thought about the final score by the fourth quarter. Instead, all focus stayed on the tunnel where Jimmy Butler disappeared, holding his right knee and grimacing in pain.
The silence lingered even after the horn. The Warriors won 135-112, yet the mood stayed heavy. Then HC Kerr spoke after the game and shared a small detail that caught everyone off guard. Butler, even while hurting, found time to joke.
The injury happened on Jan 19, 2026, with 7:41 left in the third quarter. Butler went after a loose ball under the basket and landed awkwardly on his right leg after contact. He went down immediately. Kerr called a timeout as Butler stayed on the floor, clearly shaken. Teammates helped him to the locker room as the crowd watched quietly.
Steve Kerr Opens up as Warriors Wait for MRI Clarity
Kerr met reporters after the game at Chase Center and did not hide the concern. He confirmed Butler went straight for imaging.
“He’s getting an MRI right now,” Kerr said during his postgame press conference on Jan 19. “We’re all really concerned. We’ll know more after the MRI. We don’t know anything at this point.”
The coach then shared a moment that surprised many in the room.
“He asked the refs if it was two free throws and he was chuckling as he said it,” Kerr said. “Hopefully that’s a good sign. Again, we don’t know anything.”
Steve Kerr on Jimmy Butler injury and joking while he was in pain:
"He's getting a MRI right now… We're all really concerned but we'll know more after the MRI obviously. We don;t know anything at this point… Everybody is subdued because of the injury waiting to hear the… pic.twitter.com/W9B3V1fr9h
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) January 20, 2026
The comment felt jarring because Butler looked to be in serious pain moments earlier. But it also felt very on brand. Butler has built an image across the league as one of the toughest athletes around. Even on the floor, he stayed mentally in the game.
Still, the concern remains real. Butler has dealt with injuries to the same knee before. At this stage of his career, any knee issue carries weight, no matter the attitude.
Monday also marked Butler’s first game against Miami since his trade to Golden State last February. He played with energy early and led the team in scoring before the injury cut his night short.
Stephen Curry said, “I haven’t talked to him since the game, but you never like to see a situation like that, especially somebody as tough as he is,” Curry said. “Praying for the best, obviously with scans and all that. Hopefully, he is alright.”
Golden State now waits. The team plans to share an update once MRI results come in. Until then, the jokes fade, the noise dies down, and the Warriors hold their breath.
