The Golden State Warriors lost so much more than just Game 2 against the Houston Rockets. The first game painted the Bay to be prolific because of Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry’s combination. In just 7 minutes, a scary fall saw the former Heat forward exit the game. The moment itself brought a lot of controversy. At first glance, it seems Amen Thompson crashed into Butler mid-air, causing the uncontrollable fall. That was just the start of the brutality that would ensue during the game.

The Rockets exploited their physicality over the Bay all night. Curry was practically held and dragged. Moreover, without much surprise, Draymond Green attempted to retaliate. Before seeing a technical foul, he had some chippy moments, including a little shove to Tari Eason. But he didn’t back down.

And as his mother, Teroya Eason, watched on, she wasn’t surprised. Instead, she publicly alarmed the four-time champion. “That man just lost his father YOU DONT WANT THIS DRAYMOND. This pain you ain’t seen before. These boys not letting yo old a– kick them around. Don’t get f****d up!!!,” she wrote on X. Tari Eason lost his father just a few weeks ago which he announced through an Instagram story writing “I’m hurt forever,”.

As the mother, it’s no surprise that she would be protective of her son. Eason felt Green in particular was getting away with a lot, saying “Draymond Green has done everything shy of pulling out a gun and shooting our players,”. But as she continued to absorb the competitive game from the arena, Teroya’s online rants also continued. Notably, she addressed Butler’s unfortunate fall. Eason’s teammate, Thompson, was taking a lot of heat for his involvement.

But because the Warriors are against the Rockets, Teroya’s passion compels her to treat them with some disdain. Not only did she defend the sophomore forward, but Eason also claims the Warriors’ dynasty is built on fortune. “First of all HE got pushed. We don’t hurt people for sport, but since we’re here…. Can somebody please go back and show me how many players got hurt on the road to EVERY championship these little mfs have?!?!,” she mentioned.

Regardless of Green’s attempt to get under his skin, Tari Eason remains composed. He provided the Rockets with 14 points and 6 rebounds off the bench while playing great defense to contain the hurt Warrior’s side. His contributions were vital for Houston tonight. And after tonight, this series is one to watch.

The Warriors season hangs by a thread

Aside from the rift on the floor, the Warriors and Rockets series is exuding playoff intensity in its purest form. Both teams are motivated to go through each other, and neither of them are afraid to get physical. Tonight, it did exceed the threshold. However, passion tends to bring out such human moments.

Golden State pulled the plug on a bruising Game 2 loss in Houston, as the Rockets evened the series 1-1 heading into Chase Center. Now, the biggest storyline of this first-round battle isn’t the scoreboard—it’s Jimmy Butler’s health.

An MRI is expected tomorrow on Butler’s pelvis after that scary fall late in the first quarter per Anthony Slater from The Athletic. The Warriors have seen similar injuries before—Steph Curry and Jonathan Kuminga both suffered pelvic contusions this season after similar mid-air spills. Curry missed two games. Kuminga missed one. After that, it was all about pain management.

The good news for Golden State? They’ve got two full off-days before Game 3 at home. The bad news? That cushion disappears after Sunday. Every game moving forward will be played on a one-day turnaround. So if Jimmy’s hurting, there won’t be much time to breathe.

And knowing Jimmy? Like Kerr said—“Jimmy always says he’s fine.” But it’s what the MRI says that’ll matter most.

In the end, what matters is the scoreline. Tonight, it was the Rockets who landed a much-needed blow. And with the series standing even, the Warriors will be praying for fortune to side with them.

From a week before the playoffs, Jimmy Butler slowly activated into his strongest form. He has been assertive and has allowed Stephen Curry to find moments of rest and rejuvenate for the big moments. However, his absence highlighted the same problems that existed before the trade. If not Butler, do the Rockets have anybody aside from the Chef they need to stop?

The extreme defensive pressure reduced his production to just 20 points tonight. Stephen Curry didn’t get opportunities to shoot as defenders draped over his shoulder all game. Hence, the need to have Butler back is huge. So far, the X-ray has not revealed any significant damage.

However, further tests will take place to assess whether Jimmy Butler could possibly miss some games. The difference he makes is vast. The Warriors look like a contending team with his experience and calmness on the floor. Without him, there seems to be an absence of dynamics with heavy reliance falling on Curry.

Hence, Draymond Green and Co. will hope the rest will allow Butler to recover in time. The momentum is now with the Rockets after their dominant win. But with how this series has progressed, it’s hard to tell what result awaits.