SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 20, 2026 — Golden State forward Jimmy Butler left Monday night’s 135-112 win against the Miami Heat after his right knee buckled midway through the third quarter, forcing him to be helped to the locker room.
The injury occurred with 7:41 remaining in the period when Butler jumped for an entry pass in the lane and collided with Heat guard Davion Mitchell. His right knee appeared to twist on the landing, and the 36-year-old immediately grabbed the joint while lying on the court.
Teammates and medical staff surrounded Butler for several minutes before he was lifted to his feet. Unable to place weight on the leg, he was assisted to the tunnel by Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga and then transferred to a wheelchair for the trip to the locker room. The Warriors said Butler left Chase Center for an MRI.
Head coach Steve Kerr described the postgame locker room as “subdued” while the club waited for results. “We’re all concerned,” Kerr told reporters.
“Praying for the best when the scans come back,” guard Stephen Curry added. “Hopefully he’s OK.”
Butler kept the mood light on the floor, joking with Kerr and officials that he deserved two free throws on the play that sent him down, Curry noted.
Recent form and injury history
Monday’s setback interrupts a strong stretch for Golden State. The Warriors have won 12 of their past 16 games, a surge fueled in part by Butler’s January averages of 21.3 points on 53 percent shooting. He had 17 points in 21 minutes against his former team before exiting.
The right knee has troubled Butler before; he sustained a meniscus tear in 2018 and an MCL sprain in 2024.
Golden State did not provide a timetable for an update, saying only that additional information will follow once imaging is complete.
Source: ESPN
