Jimmy Butler injury: Warriors star sustains season-ending ACL tear, per report

Any hope the Golden State Warriors had of making the playoffs could have come to a screeching halt when Jimmy Butler went down Monday night with what is believed to be a torn right ACL, according to an ESPN report citing sources, during a game against the Miami Heat.

With 7:41 left in the third quarter, Brandin Podziemski attempted to throw an entry pass over Butler, who had his man sealed; however, as he went up to make the catch, Davion Mitchell collided with Butler, who fell awkwardly onto his right leg.

The immediate pain Butler felt and the severity of the injury were evident.

Butler can immediately be heard screaming in pain, and he was unable to put any weight on the leg as his teammates helped him to the locker room.

All the Warriors said Monday night was that Butler suffered a “knee injury,” although early Tuesday morning, Shams Charania reported that sources said it was a torn ACL in his right knee, an injury that would end his season.

If Butler’s season is indeed over, so would Golden State’s campaign. The Warriors were already going to have to make a big run in the second half to crawl above the play-in line, but without Butler, who was in the middle of a tremendous season, there’s no chance they could do anything in the playoffs, even if they were to somehow qualify. In addition to monitoring Butler’s status, this development should impact Golden State’s approach to the Feb. 5 trade deadline.