Jimmy Butler handed the Dubs a lifeline following his trade, reviving their title hopes. The Dubs looked rejuvenated after his arrival. However, the events of Game 2 in the series against Houston have poured cold water all over the Warriors’ momentum. A tumbling Amen Thompson caused Jimmy to suffer a pelvic contusion. And now every Dubs fan is thinking the same thing.

Is Jimmy Butler going to play in Game 3 against the Houston Rockets? Well, the answer may be more complicated than you think. But don’t worry, we’ll do our best so that you’re no longer in the dark about his status as the Dubs attempt to break the deadlock in this series.

Is Jimmy Butler playing tonight against the Houston Rockets?

The Golden State Warriors have 3 players listed on their injury report. First up is Steph Curry, who’s AVAILABLE despite sporting a splint on his right thumb. Then, there’s Gary Payton II, who’s QUESTIONABLE to appear in Game 3 with a strained right shoulder. Finally, Jimmy Butler, like Gary, is also listed as QUESTIONABLE.

Now, it’s a great sign that Jimmy has a shot at appearing in Game 3 against the Rockets. But let’s review that QUESTIONABLE status, shall we? For starters, Jimmy’s recent MRI revealed that his nasty fall in Game 2 didn’t cause any structural damage. However, he was diagnosed with a deep glute muscle contusion.

Experts like UCSF’s Dr. Nirav Pandya have said that returning to the court in cases like these is “usually centered around pain relief.” Meaning, Jimmy’s appearance in Game 3 is down to one thing. So it makes sense that Jimmy playing in Game 3 isn’t entirely out of the question. But can he play through the excruciating pain of his injury to help the Dubs gain the upper hand at the Chase Center tonight?

Now, the answer to that question is down solely to how Jimmy feels ahead of the game. However, the prospect of Jimmy playing through the pain raises another question. Is it even worth it?

Should the Warriors risk further injury to Jimmy Butler by playing him in Game 3?

Taken superficially, the answer to this question seems very black or white. You’re either worried about Jimmy aggravating his injury, so you want him to be rested. Or you’re worried about the Dubs’ ability to get the job done without Jimmy and want him to play in whatever capacity he can. The reality of the situation is a little more complicated, though.

Although Jimmy Butler hasn’t spoken publicly since his hard fall in Game 2, Steve Kerr gave some insight into his mindset—one that every Warriors fan has come to recognize. “Jimmy always says he’s fine,” Kerr said, offering a glimpse into the veteran’s tough-it-out approach.

But Butler’s questionable status for Game 3 looms large. The Warriors’ offense and defense revolve around his energy and production—his 25-point, seven-rebound, six-assist, five-steal performance in Game 1 was a reminder of just how central he’s been to their 25-9 run since joining the team.

Still, there’s a glimmer of hope. “I’m relatively optimistic. I mean, Jimmy is Jimmy. We know he’s willing to play through anything, so we’ll see. I mean, this is a day-to-day thing for sure, and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow, but I think there’s a chance he plays,” Kerr added.

If he doesn’t suit up, however, the Warriors will have to retool on the fly—likely turning to Jonathan Kuminga for a bigger role and reshuffling their game plan to withstand Houston’s physicality in a now wide-open 1-1 series.

To address the first point. Well, Stephen Curry returned to action after resting for 2 games when he suffered the same injury in the regular season. Jonathan Kuminga returned to the fray after sitting out for just a single game. Clearly, the Dubs’ medical staff knows how to deal with this injury. So it stands to reason that they know what they’re doing when leaving the decision of whether Jimmy plays up to coach Steve Kerr and Jimmy himself.

Now, onto whether the Dubs can get it done. Here’s where things get a little dicey. You see, after Jimmy Buckets arrived in the Bay Area, the Warriors went 9-4 across 13 games at the Chase Center. But without him, the Dubs actually have quite a worrying home record of 15-13 in 28 games! Moreover, the Rockets have a respectable 23-17 record on the road. So the Dubs can’t take them lightly at the Chase Center, either.

All in all, it seems worth the risk to play Jimmy Butler in Game 3 against the Houston Rockets. But like we said earlier, it all comes down to how much pain he is in right now. After all, we learned from Luka Doncic and the Lakers game tonight that sometimes playing through discomfort does not benefit anyone!