By Chalien Dantes

The Golden State Warriors’ hopes of a strong season took a brutal hit when star guard Jimmy Butler suffered a torn right ACL, ending his year in the middle of a victory over the Miami Heat.

The injury came in the third quarter of Golden State’s 135-112 win, when Butler leapt for a pass and landed awkwardly, his knee buckling painfully as he collapsed to the floor. The usually raucous Chase Centre went silent as teammates gathered around him, while Butler, ever the fighter, kept his spirits up with light-hearted jokes even as he was helped off the court. He couldn’t put weight on his right leg and was immediately sent for an MRI.

The timing couldn’t be worse for the Warriors, who were finally hitting their stride. The win over Miami was their 12th in 16 games after a rough start, bringing them to 25-19 and within striking distance of the sixth and seventh seeds in the West. Much of that momentum came from Butler himself, who has averaged 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on 51.9% shooting across 38 games this season.

Butler’s arrival last year had already lifted Golden State’s ceiling, providing stability in the second unit and filling the gaps when Steph Curry rested. With him sidelined, the Warriors suddenly face a daunting road ahead, with little room to manoeuvre and few short-term solutions to replace one of the team’s key engines.

A team that looked poised to push deep into the playoffs now faces uncertainty, and the road ahead will be a true test of resilience for the reigning champions.