Jimmy Butler III ruled out for the rest of Game 2

Fingers crossed.

The Golden State Warriors have looked like a completely different team since acquiring Jimmy Butler III at the trade deadline. They were struggling before acquiring Butler, and it’s reasonable to think they’ll struggle again if they have to play without him. And unfortunately, there’s a chance we might find out.

Butler took a scary fall during the first quarter of Wednesday’s Game 2 against the Houston Rockets, and left the game to go to the locker room, accompanied by team trainers.

It happened late in the first quarter, when Butler leaped high in the air for a rebound and a put-back attempt, and collided with Rockets wing Amen Thompson. Thompson’s momentum took him through Butler’s lower half, turning the star parallel to the ground about five feet in the air. Butler landed flat on the ground, seemingly landing on both his back and tailbone.

Butler stayed on the ground for quite a while in notable pain. He eventually got up, walked around gingerly, and shot his free throws, which ensures that he’ll be able to return to the game later if he’s healthy enough to. Then, after staying on the court for a few possessions, Butler walked very slowly and gingerly off the court and straight to the locker room.

Thompson also was shaken up by the fall, but got up more quickly and stayed in the game.

Shortly into the second quarter, the Warriors announced that Butler has a pelvic contusion, and will not return to the game.