Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson found himself in a rather precarious position after being called for a foul on Jimmy Butler in Game 2. Although Thompson was handed a personal foul for the play, new video evidence suggests that the forward was not pushed from behind before the dive.
Late in the first quarter of Game 2, a collision between Amen Thompson and Jimmy Butler while attempting to secure a rebound resulted in the latter suffering an injury. The foul was given to Thompson, and Butler was given two free throws. However, many Warriors players were unhappy with the call as they felt that there was more to it.
Thompson was seen diving forward after a “push” from behind led to him inadvertently undercutting Butler. However, a different angle of the play displayed that there was no contact with the Rockets forward before he dove into Butler.
Draymond didn’t even push Amen Thompson.. Thompson just launched himself into Jimmy Butler’s back…
Dirty af. pic.twitter.com/jI11AWbaaD
— De🅿️ressed Warriors Fan 💔 (@GoIdenState) April 24, 2025
The commentators made it a point to claim that Thompson may have been unintentionally tripped up by Draymond Green, who was also jockeying for the rebound. But the optics do not favor the 22-year-old, as he seems to be developing a bit of a reputation for being a “dirty” player among NBA fans.
The play has had more serious connotations for the Golden State Warriors, who struggled to perform without Butler on the field. Although the 94-109 loss in Game 2 will hurt, the Warriors will be more concerned about Butler’s availability for the upcoming game.
Steve Kerr Addresses Concerns About Jimmy Butler’s Injury
Following the loss in Game 2, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr addressed concerns regarding Jimmy Butler’s injury during the postgame press conference.
“Jimmy always says he’s going to be fine. But we have to wait to see with the MRI,” said Kerr, when asked about how optimistic he was about Butler’s condition.
Not having Butler had a drastic impact on the Warriors’ performance in Game 2. Although Golden State made a valiant effort to fight their way back into the game after losing their star forward, they were simply outclassed by the Rockets and their physicality.
Butler’s presence on the floor has made Golden State look like a contender. His absence displayed the sheer impact he has on the team, defensively and offensively.
The Rockets focused all their defensive efforts on Stephen Curry, who had 20 points, five rebounds, and nine assists for the night on 6-15 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, Rockets guard Jalen Green went on a rampage, scoring 38 points for the game to lead Houston to the win.
Updates on Butler’s injury status will be vital as Golden State heads home for Game 3. With the series level at one game apiece, the Warriors will hope that the six-time All-Star will be available for the duel on Saturday at 8:30 pm ET.
