Assessing every Golden State player’s performance from the team’s 115-107 loss to Houston Well, the Golden State Warriors messed around and found out. They played with their food for far too long, and now they’ve squandered a 3-1 series lead. They lost 115-107 to the Houston Rockets on Friday setting up a Game 7 showdown on Sunday night where both teams will be in win-or-go-home mode So let’s grade the players who screwed up a prime opportunity to clinch and advance grades are based on my expectations for each player with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws Payton was inserted into the starting lineup The results weren’t good — FVV finished with an outrageously efficient 29 points with eight assists — but Payton did a decent job on him VanVleet had a case of good offense beating good defense but it certainly wasn’t Payton’s best defense .. and he really didn’t contribute anywhere else It’s a sign of how good Butler is that the game ended and I thought Butler’s clearly still injured and that’s tilting the series” .. only to look at the box score and realize he had 27 though I’m not changing my tune: he wouldn’t be playing if this were the regular season and he’s not playing as well as he normally would so his sub-par performances are still outrageously good especially in the third quarter when he repeatedly muscled his way past Houston’s defense to get good looks Grade: A-Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds and assists Draymond nearly cost the Warriors the game early on when he sent a wholly unnecessary elbow and open hand into Jalen Green while trying to shed him but could have easily been a Flagrant 2 and an ejection Once this series got chippy I thought it would benefit the Warriors and thus much more familiar with playing through high emotions and intensity as he looks far more rattled than any Rockets player He simply cannot flirt with flagrants or technicals on Sunday Some really nice defense and some great passes He’s been a difference-maker at times during this series Hield provided nothing on offense and nothing on defense I think the series and the season will come down to this: if Curry can find a way to get free and open on Sunday the Warriors will win and march on to the semis and it will be a long and confusing offseason aren’t good enough to regularly win that way (though they did in Game 4) The coaching staff has a lot of work to do in the next 40 hours to get Steph some better looks Grade: CPost-game bonus: Led the team in points He entered the game and provided an immediate dose of energy that was contagious to his teammates as Podziemski drew two quick charges and was all over the court for loose balls and rebounds He couldn’t leave his imprint on offense and he really got beat up on defense as the bulk of them were when the Dubs went to a hack-a-Adams approach and couldn’t stop Houston from gathering offensive rebounds stepping into a three within a few seconds of entering the game and later trying for a poster dunk that he just missed but in a game where the Warriors kind of just didn’t show up Grade: B+Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team Looney just hasn’t been a great fit in this series and it seems like Steve Kerr finally gave up making that work this game I’d imagine that will also be the case on Sunday The Dubs aren’t going to beat the Rockets by matching their size or interior presence I didn’t expect there to be negative garbage time in this one Grade: IncompletePost-game bonus: Tied for the best plus/minus on the team No rotation minutes for Santos in this game Nobody ins able to take advantage of garbage-time minutes like Pat Spencer the back of his jersey just read his last name But when he was traded to the Golden State Warriors MORE: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton proves he was never overrated paying homage to the men that came before him Butler's father died about a year ago, and it's Butler's way of paying tribute It's a reminder for Butler that he is his father's son "Because I am the third and it's actually a year ago today of the passing of my father," Butler told reporters in February "So this was big for me to change it and realize that I am his son So I'm very grateful and that's why I'm Butler III now." Butler had wanted out of Miami and was suspended multiple times for his behavior before the Heat eventually moved him The Warriors got Butler to try and turn themselves into NBA title contenders they went from sub-.500 to one of the best teams in the Western Conference Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle Jimmy Butler has played only three games in Minnesota since his infamous maneuver to be traded away from the Timberwolves None will have the stakes of the upcoming Western Conference semifinals series between the Warriors and the Wolves It'll be time for a bit of reckoning of Butler's 2018 actions he returned to practice one day and pretty much challenged everyone in practice MORE: Buddy Hield breaks Steph Curry's Game 7 record Butler is reported to have taken the Minnesota benchwarmers and run the table against the Timberwolves' starters but he's also pretty darn savage and often delivers in the big moments but he's just as much about quieting the haters in any setting The Minnesota crowd will certainly boo Butler but that seems just as likely to wake him up as anything else So just stick around for the theater of the upcoming series But the competition with the most dramatic intrigue will be Butler against Minneapolis By WSFA 12 News StaffPublished: May. 4, 2025 at 5:14 PM CDT|Updated: 15 hours agoEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBUTLER COUNTY, Ala. (WSFA) - A woman from Texas has died following a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 65 in Alabama Sunday morning According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Ramirez was fatally injured after her motorcycle struck another car near the 111 mile marker in Butler County ALEA officers are investigating to determine what lead to the crash Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application 2025 in her home surrounded by her loving family and care-giving friends She graduated from Kendall Central High School in 1951 NY and at Duffy Motts plant after graduation in Frankfurt Germany where he was deployed in the U.S The couple was wed in Frankfurt on March 2nd by the Germans and March 3rd by the Americans Her husband would often remark how wonderful it was to have wed his bride twice therefore providing a one-day grace period for the remembrance of the occasion The newlyweds returned to the states in 1957 with their first of three girls on the way Throughout the following years Dorothy was happily involved in dance with all three daughters and subsequently her granddaughters as well Dot was an avid seamstress and could often be found designing and sewing costumes and fashionable outfits for her girls and granddaughters Dorothy was a devout Catholic and a member of St Mark's congregations and enjoyed singing in the church choir She and Harry were a vital part of the Democrat party and attended conferences posted signs and campaigned on behalf of many local candidates working outside and keeping her yard impeccable She could often be seen perched upon the mower turning ordinary blades of grass into a scenic Dot and Harry both loved to dance; especially to live Country bands Over the years many people were entertained by their dancing synchronicity and they became known as the "local Fred and Ginger" Dorothy now joins the love of her life (Harry Butler) in Heaven where they shall dance together for eternity Dorothy is survived by her three daughters great-great granddaughters Madison Grady and Maleigha Kasper and sister Evelyn Taylor (Carl) Dorothy is preceded in death by her siblings George Bancroft The family will receive friends at the Christoper Mitchell Funeral Home 16650 State Route 31 from 4-6:30 pm where her service and celebration of life will be held on May 6 Interment will be held directly after the service at Greenwood Cemetery in Kendall please visit www.mitchellfamilyfuneralhomes.com Christopher Mitchell Funeral Home - Holley Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors This is not your typical backyard barbecue Playing on the same team for the first time in their careers the world would think they'd been teammates for a decade Golden State Warriors press conferences have long been filled with Stephen Curry praise, Steve Kerr quips, and Draymond Green straight talk Butler and Hield have brought a different brand of levity to the the Warriors locker room this season to Butler claiming Hield doesn't know anything their conversations with reporters have been comedic gold Sunday night was no different. With their season on the line, in a Game 7, Hield put forth one of the most prolific performances of his nine-year-career. Hield dropped 33 points on the Houston Rockets The Warriors have advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves behind Hield's monster shooting performance While most teammates would be showering Hield with praise Butler isn't quite ready to give Hield his flowers When asked if Hield deserved any of the credit for the Warriors' Game 7 103-89 victory over the Rockets on the Warriors local television broadcast Butler couldn't bring himself to admit what should have been simple and obvious "I plead the Fifth," Butler responded with a wry smile Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield celebrates with forward Jimmy Butler as he speaks to TNT beating the Houston Rockets and seven assists to go along with Curry's 22 points While both played solid efficient basketball on both ends of the floor Hield stole the show with his lights out shooting The Warriors next round will tip-off on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m “I dreamed everything went wrong on stage and we all turned to dust" Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler has admitted he is having “nightmares” and “palpitations” ahead of the band’s farewell show this summer With the date starting to draw near, Butler has spoken to The Guardian about how his nerves are now very real. “I’m already having palpitations,” he said. “In fact, I had a nightmare last night.” “I dreamed everything went wrong on stage and we all turned to dust,” he added. “It’s important that we leave a great impression, since it’s the final time that people will experience us live. So it has to be great on the night.” A post shared by NME (@nmemagazine) He continued: “I’m used to doing two hours on stage I don’t think I’ll be doing much jumping or running around this time “We’re only playing a couple of songs each I don’t want people thinking ‘We’re getting ripped off’ because it’s just going to be … what’s the word you’re going to get a few songs each by Ozzy and Sabbath.” Speaking to NME back in February, Iommi and Sharon Osbourne teased what to expect from Sabbath’s final concert, while also providing an update on Ozzy’s health. A post shared by NME (@nmemagazine) but he’s great and it doesn’t affect his voice,” said Sharon That’s what it’s all about: he wants to get out and do something.” The concert will raise funds for three charities: Cure Parkinson’s Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Birmingham-based Acorns Children’s Hospice – a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa Football Club The world’s defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking what’s new and what’s next since 1952 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 150ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:inherit;}.css-v4v4rs{-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;fill:currentColor;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:inherit;}@media (min-width:0px){.css-v4v4rs{display:block;}}@media (min-width:1100px){.css-v4v4rs{display:none;}}.css-mps3fk{-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;fill:currentColor;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 Jimmy Butler remains confident the Golden State Warriors will prevail in Game 7 on Sunday "So we're going to win together, we're going to lose together. I know we're definitely going to win together come Sunday. We're good. We're smiling. We're listening to our music, celebrating life. We're ready to compete. We were ready to compete tonight. Things didn't go our way. OK, we're going to be ready to compete on Sunday. We're going to make the game go our way." the Warriors looked to be in good shape on Friday night playing at home with a chance to end the series as the Rockets led virtually the entire way They went on a 14-1 run midway through the fourth quarter to turn a four point lead into a 106-89 score which had been the key to its turnaround after acquiring Butler The Rockets are shooting 50.0 percent in the last two games Stephen Curry's efficiency has dipped as he deals with a thumb injury The two-time MVP is shooting 39.6 percent from the field in the last three games He made 52.6 percent of his attempts in the first three games (45.2 percent from three) This is not an unfamiliar spot for the Warriors to be in They were on the losing end of arguably the most famous 3-1 lead in NBA history against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 Finals A loss on Sunday will make the Warriors the first team since the 2020 Los Angeles Clippers to blow a 3-1 series lead Golden State and Houston will play Game 7 on Sunday at 8:30 p.m GSW (7)Jimmy Butler returns from 1-game absence to play for Warriors in Game 4 win vs RocketsWarriors star forward returns after sustaining a pelvic contusion in frightening fall during Game 2 on Wednesday diagnosed with a pelvic contusion during Game 2 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — With Jimmy Butler’s tailbone still hurting at the end he came through in remarkable fashion and in every which way despite all the pain The Golden State star returned from a one-game absence and rejoined the starting lineup Monday night for a 109-106 Game 4 Warriors victory in their first-round series against the Houston Rockets limping at times as he led his team one win away from advancing to the Western Conference semifinals This is the best time of the year for everybody this is why you go through what you go through,” Butler said Butler contributed 27 points, six assists, five rebounds, blocked a shot and converted all 12 of his free throws while playing 40 minutes, less than a week after he sustained a pelvic contusion in a frightening fall early in Game 2 last Wednesday He converted three free throws with 58.7 seconds left grabbed the game-clinching rebound with 4 seconds to go and then made two more free throws it was beautiful,” teammate Draymond Green said What his presence does for this team is humongous Not sure how he started moving in the fourth quarter Butler participated in the morning shootaround earlier in the day and just needed to have a successful warmup to be deemed good to go “I thought it was winning time,” Butler said of his play down the stretch thrilled he began to “move a little bit better.” Butler played just more than five minutes during his initial stretch and nearly 18 minutes by halftime in a heated game delayed twice in the second quarter by skirmishes that featured four technical fouls and a flagrant 1 when Butler spent much of the day working with the medical staff Kerr said Vice President of Player Health and Performance Rick Celebrini couldn’t predict how many minutes Butler’s body might be able to handle until he’s actually back out on the floor in live action “It’s a good pain when it’s all toward winning I feel like they got me here to help do something special and if I’m out there on the floor I’m expected to produce and help win so I’m glad I was able to do that tonight,” he said “… Today I woke up and I was good enough so I was able to go out there and compete.” The star forward underwent an MRI exam on Thursday in the Bay Area that revealed he injured his pelvis and has a deep gluteal muscle contusion The Warriors lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 and can clinch the first round when the series resumes Wednesday in Houston Golden State won 104-93 on Saturday without Butler Kerr hoped to be able to rest Curry more regularly — but he still played 39 minutes Butler went down hard when fouled by Amen Thompson late in the first quarter and then missed the rest of the Warriors’ 109-94 Game 2 loss Wednesday Butler tried to secure a rebound when Thompson undercut him and sent the Warriors star’s feet high into the air so that he came down straight onto his tailbone Both players thudded to the floor and Butler grimaced in pain grabbing at his backside He stayed in briefly to shoot two free throws before going to the locker room Stephen Curry has had the same injury multiple times but for him to gut through in the first half and get the wheels going and then get turned up second half both ends of the floor it’s why he is who he is and why he means so much to us,” Curry said six assists and five steals in 42 minutes of action The Warriors are 27-9 since Butler made his debut at Chicago on Feb a play-in tournament win over Memphis and the games facing Houston The Warriors know how much they will need Butler if they want to make a deep postseason run If this were the regular season he’d probably miss another week or two,” coach Steve Kerr said The rebound at the end was just incredible the force then of course knocking down the free throws to clinch it The Warriors swingman underwent an MRI that revealed he injured his pelvis and has a deep gluteal muscle contusion Butler was able to get up gingerly and limped his way to the free throw line where he made 1 of 2 before leaving the game Golden State's star guard wins the award which recognizes the player deemed the best teammate on and off the court we make the case for -- and against -- each of the playoff teams to win the 2025 NBA title In a team meeting before Sunday's clinching win Draymond Green explains he was 'embarrassed' after losing his poise in Game 6 All eyes will be on Anthony Edwards as he and the Wolves try to slow down Stephen Curry and the Warriors in the semifinal matchup Kenny & others reveal their picks for the conference semifinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sunday marked the 1st time Jrue Holiday wasn't on the injury report since missing final 3 games of first round Stay in the know on today's NBA Playoff action with the latest news scores and highlights from around the league It's an action-packed Sunday featuring a win-or-go-home matchup in Houston and Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals MORE: Buddy Hield breaks Steph Curry's Game 7 record 2025Sony Pictures.Save this storySaveSave this storySaveDarren Aronofsky knew he was truly capturing the essence of New York’s wild and unpredictable nightlife when his new movie got hit with a sprinkling of urine The uncomfortable encounter happened last fall as Caught Stealing shot scenes beside a tenement in a New York neighborhood that’s famous for its boisterous and bohemian residents and club-goers Aronofsky rubs the back of his neck and brings up The Incident a PA got peed on from someone on a fire escape who plays a hard-luck former ballplayer who becomes the target of an assortment of underworld thugs and sociopaths “She got peed on by a fully naked woman on a fire escape She thought an air conditioner was leaking on her from above Matt Smith as neighbor Russ and Austin Butler as Hank Thompson But such are the risks of shooting on location especially when that location is known for its offbeat atmosphere “The thing about the East Village is that there’s so many of those great kind of characters,” the Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan filmmaker tells Vanity Fair for this exclusive first look And that’s kind of my experience and why I love the East Village so much The East Village is practically a character itself “Everyone thinks that East Village belongs to them because I believe the East Village belongs to me,” Aronofsky adds “I’ve been going there since I was in high school and that was the coolest place in the world to be partly because it was the only place that served underage minors at the time We would just always go to the East Village and get into trouble.” “Trouble” is the best way to sum up Caught Stealing Butler’s Hank Thompson is trying his best to avoid it He was once a promising ballplayer in high school Now he’s tending bar at a dive to make ends meet and she’s a caring woman and she’s cool and she’s strong,” Butler says Regina King's organized crime investigator Elise Roman gives Austin Butler's Hank some heavy news in Caught Stealing “She’s a solid New York girl,” Aronofsky adds but also levity and lightness,” Butler says “I think she sees the stupor that he’s in and is trying to shake him out of it,” Aronofsky says I was looking for someone that was the kind of real downtown New York person that I knew back then And it makes sense that Zoë was able to jump in.” Hank is trying his best to demonstrate to her that he’s the trustworthy and reliable type someone who can be counted upon in a crisis Maybe that’s why he happily obliges when his punk rock neighbor Russ (House of the Dragon’s Matt Smith sporting a ceiling-scraping orange mohawk) asks him to check in on his pet cat while he’s away a couple of thugs catch Hank coming out of Russ’s apartment and mistake the pet-sitter for the punk rocker whom they believe knows the whereabouts of $4 million in laundered mob money That’s when his luck turns even further south Bad Bunny waits patiently on behalf of the Puerto Rican mob while two other gangsters (Nikita Kukushkin and Yuri Kolokolnikov) go about their illicit business Caught Stealing was crafted as a kind of period piece set the story in September 2000 in the book but Aronofsky wound back the clock a couple more years to satisfy his own nostalgic craving “There are lots of weird characters and lots of weird sub-stories going on But I think it’s very much a crime caper,” he says “I tried to make a genre film with the best actors in the world and bring it to life with the kind of energy that I felt in ’98.” and the around-the-clock surveillance of cell phones and closed-circuit cameras was not yet omnipresent Dirty deeds could still be conducted out of sight in a city that had its spirit hardened but was not yet on high alert it’s the perfect backdrop for a group of oddballs to lash out at each other over some illicit cash The filmmaker had once tempted fate himself in Manhattan’s Lower East Side as an underage party seeker and he missed the good old days of getting away with things While on the awards circuit in late 2022 for The Whale Aronofsky found himself turning back to Huston’s book and the emotional anguish of The Whale had him yearning for something that would make him laugh “I was really upset that I couldn’t figure out what was next And I kind of had this urge to do something fun,” he says “I felt like there was just so much tension in our normal lives that I felt like the one thing that Hollywood has always done great is entertain The most fun one I have is Charlie's script.’” Aronofsky found himself on the same event circuit as Butler “We had bumped into each other a few times and we hit it off,” Aronofsky says Butler was also unsure about to take on next “It was the beginning of December,” Aronofsky says and I’m going to have something for you.’ I just worked really hard through December six or seven drafts to get it more polished.” Batter Up: Austin Butler's Hank Thompson is a once-promising baseball player whose career didn't work out and the director of the first audition I ever went to—Jacob Chase was his name—cast me in this student film ‘Who’s your favorite director?’ I’m trying to seek mentorship in whatever way “Get away from that director as quick as you can.” The harrowing drug addiction drama is a hard watch for anyone of any age then I dug into every one of his films and always wanted to work with him I remember having this moment of: That’s actually Darren Aronofsky!” “It’s something that I could sink my teeth into as an actor and explore this guy who’s tortured and has been sort of numbing himself and then “The world really spirals out of control,” Aronofsky says But there was one point of disagreement from the start “Darren kept talking about how fun the movie was,” Butler says like—the stuff I’m going through is not a lot of fun.” But now that he’s seen it he gets it: “Something that can be a nightmare for the character can actually have humor.” Zoë Kravitz's Yvonne: “She’s great for him The first misfortune to befall Hank is the brawl with a pair of bad guys outside his neighbor’s door Then he gets a warning from a New York Police Department detective named Elise Roman who informs him that he’s not tangling with low-level crooks The people targeting him are out for blood if they don’t get their money—and he doesn’t actually know where it is Roman is played by If Beale Street Could Talk Oscar winner Regina King who tries to reason with the headstrong young man “The word gravitas comes to mind with her as well,” Butler says “She has a power and this internal weight.” Liev Schreiber’s Lipa and Vincent D’Onofrio's Shmully are two “badass motherfuckers,” according to Aronofsky Aronofsky recommended that Butler rewatch Martin Scorsese’s 1985 comedy After Hours to get a feel for the vibe he wanted about a clean-cut young man’s strange encounters during one wild night in New York Not only was this a chance to pay tribute to that earlier movie but Dunne is also a longtime resident of the neighborhood in real life “He is an East Village character,” Aronofsky says Viewers can be forgiven for not recognizing Dunne right away because he’s not so clean-cut this time “He’s got a ponytail and a handlebar mustache,” Aronofsky says is a victim of this whole morass involving the missing money And more than one gang wants to squeeze Hank for information about it it’s Austin versus all these different types of criminals,” Aronofsky says the Puerto Ricans— they’re all out to get him.” Darren Aronofsky directs Austin Butler on the streets of New York in Caught Stealing The Jewish mobsters are represented by Liev Schreiber’s Lipa and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Shmully two Orthodox brothers who appear reverential and gentlemanly but rigorously following religious strictures does not mean they always obey the laws of the city “I just don’t know how much I want to give away but they’re a bunch of badass motherfuckers,” Aronofsky says Mayor Giuliani might’ve thought that they were on the wrong side.” but they also introduce him to the comforting matzo ball soup of Carol Kane playing the prototypical nurturing Jewish mother who thinks the young man is far too skinny Butler says Schreiber and D’Onofrio’s chemistry was so good he found himself making videos of their conversations between takes “They had me in stitches at times because they just had this rapport back and forth that was comedic gold,” he says taking a moment to refuel beside a cat who wants some too Caught Stealing also features Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio a trigger-happy member of the Puerto Rican gang who rounds out the underworld figures who are closing in on Hank ‘Benito’s interested in acting,’ and we ended up talking,” Aronofsky says “There was a character that he fit really well and he was great “We were constantly terrified that the neighborhood would be overthrown as soon as they found out that Benito was there,” Aronofsky says He actually would come to set and then just camp out there knowing he was not going to be able to get back to his trailer or anywhere.” which meant shielding him from view and getting him in and out of locations without onlookers recognizing him. “There were a lot of back exits and going through tunnels that no one ever knew existed in the East Village to get him out and back and over fences so he didn’t have to go through the street,” Aronofsky says “It was constantly like: ‘Hide the Benito.’” How Miriam Adelson Went From Big MAGA Winner to Casino Loser in Trump’s First 100 Days Trump’s Lies Are Finally Catching Up to Him The UK Has Found Another Reason to Be Mad at Meghan Markle “It’s About Him”: How Trump Is Perverting the Presidential Photo Stream The Ballad of Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson The Truth Underlying Pete Hegseth’s Job Security Why Are Americans So Obsessed With Protein How Sebastian Stan Became Hollywood’s Most Daring Shape-Shifter Every Quentin Tarantino Movie Meet Elon Musk’s 14 Children and Their Mothers (Whom We Know of) From the Archive: Sinatra and the Mob The bassist was speaking to The Guardian on May 2nd about the band’s stratospheric career as it reaches its conclusion with their farewell gig at their native Villa Park on July 5th several major doubts have been cast over the state of frontman Ozzy Osbourne’s health and whether he will be able to perform at all let alone to the standard fans and critics are awaiting to be pulled off Butler said: “I’m already having palpitations,” before adding I dreamed everything went wrong on stage and we all turned to dust It’s important that we leave a great impression since it’s the final time that people will experience us live It comes as speculation over Osbourne’s health and contribution to the gig continues to mount, with Van Halen singer Sammy Hager confirming that the frontman will only have the stamina to perform five songs on the night In April, Osbourne revealed that he is in training for the concert saying that “it really is like starting from scratch.” On that front Tony Iommi noted in Butler’s latest interview: “I think Ozzy might be on some kind of throne but I’m in the dark as much as anybody else.” Black Sabbath will perform at the Villa Park gig with a string of other bands and artists including the most recently announced acts, Steven Tyler and Soundgarden. The concert will benefit the charities Cure Parkinson’s Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa After all the teasing Buddy Hield has endured from Warriors teammate Jimmy Butler the Golden State guard got the last laugh in Game 7 on Sunday night "I plead the Fifth," Butler told Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike on "Warriors Postgame Live" after the win, who had asked the star forward if Hield is included now, a nod to Butler's viral Instagram post where he thanked all the Warriors "excluding Buddy," after missing their Game 3 win with a pelvic injury stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams "I plead the Fifth."Jimmy isn't ready to give Buddy any credit 😂 pic.twitter.com/B66AX5naak Butler and Hield love ribbing each other after games and the latter served it right back during his postgame press conference "Jimmy didn't say nothing to me yet," Hield told reporters "I'm not going to get on Jimmy yet; I'm going to keep it calm but today I had to fill his role for him in the first half Hield welcomed Butler to the podium after his own presser was over trolling his teammate every step of the way Find the latest Golden State Warriors news analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California These two will never let each other rest 😂 pic.twitter.com/Gz3cSltug2 But after Butler got in a few more joking digs on Hield the six-time NBA All-Star heaped praise upon the unofficial MVP of Game 7 "But we know the type of basketball player he is and he's a tough cover for sure whenever he's making shots But he made so many right plays on the defensive side of the ball where it needed to go they'll be treated to an entirely new NBA playoff series featuring plenty more of Butler and Hield's hijinks The Warriors now head to Minnesota for a best-of-seven series against Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast GSW (7)Jimmy Butler ruled out for Game 3 vs Rockets after fall that resulted in pelvic contusionThe Warriors swingman underwent an MRI that revealed he injured his pelvis and has a deep gluteal muscle contusion Golden State forward Jimmy Butler was unable to play in Game 3 against Houston SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Warriors forward Jimmy Butler sat out Game 3 of Golden State’s first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets due to a pelvic contusion suffered during Game 2 who scored 25 points in Game 1 before a frightening fall cut short his appearance in Game 2 and appeared to cast a shadow over the rest of the series receiving a vintage 36-point performance from Stephen Curry and stellar bench play en route to the 104-93 victory Golden State now leads the best-of-seven series 2-1 Warriors head coach Steve Kerr had expressed optimism that Butler might play as recently as Friday We know he’s willing to play through anything “This is a day-to-day thing for sure and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow Butler flew home from Houston and underwent an MRI exam Thursday in the Bay Area that revealed he injured his pelvis and has a deep gluteal muscle contusion. Game 4 is Monday (10 ET, TNT) Butler, who has taken pressure off Stephen Curry by contributing on both ends since being acquired from Miami at the trade deadline, went down hard when fouled by Amen Thompson late in the first quarter and then missed the rest of the Warriors’ 109-94 Game 2 loss on Wednesday night Jimmy Butler exits Game 2 with a pelvic contusion after a hard fall and coach Steve Kerr isn't sure if he will be available for Game 3 Butler tried to secure a rebound when Thompson undercut him and sent the Warriors star’s feet high into the air so he came down straight onto his tailbone Both players thudded to the floor with the collision and Butler grimaced in pain he’s a huge part of what they do,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said so you can key in on Curry a little bit more obviously with him not on the court And I think we did that for the most part.” Houston’s Dillon Brooks on Friday defended Thompson for playing fairly and instead said “I think the dirty player is Draymond (Green).” Brooks’ Flagrant 2 foul on Gary Payton II during Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals during the Warriors’ championship run in 2022 fractured Payton’s elbow He returned for Game 2 of Golden State’s six-game NBA Finals victory over Boston Butler has done so much on both ends since being traded to the Warriors from Miami in February In the Game 1 win against the Rockets, he had 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals in 42 minutes of action. The Warriors are 25-9 since Butler made his debut at Chicago on Feb. 8, including 23-8 in the regular season, a play-in tournament win over Memphis and the two games facing Houston. Now, if need be, Kerr will do his best to capitalize on the depth that has been such an asset all season — “not two game plans but two rotations for sure, the game plan doesn’t change,” he said. “It’s a pain tolerance thing, that’s why it’s day to day,” Kerr said of Butler’s status. Jonathan Kuminga hadn’t been on the court at all the previous three games but was called into the rotation with Butler hurt. “Everybody’s going to step up and play a better role when he’s not out there,” Podziemski said. “Obviously it helps that we’re at home so role players, it makes it easier for them because the crowd’s playing with them. I think everybody’s just going to step up and play better. It’s the first home playoff game for many of us.” Kerr called Butler’s injury similar to what Curry has done previously. Quinten Post, a 25-year-old backup center who played fewer than 700 minutes in the regular season, started Game 4 and finished with 12 rebounds and four assists in over 27 minutes of action. “I’ve had that happen a couple of times and you know exactly what it is. It’s a matter of how bad it was and I don’t know,” Curry said after Game 3. “But it definitely changed the dynamic of our offense. Him and BP played a combined 21 minutes, so it kind of shuffled all the rotations a little bit.” AP Sports Writer Kristie Rieken in Houston contributed to this report. Butler was able to get up gingerly and limped his way to the free throw line, where he made 1 of 2 before leaving the game. Houston evens the series behind Jalen Green in Game 2, while Golden State struggles after Jimmy Butler's departure. Warriors veteran forward Draymond Green is the recipient of the 2024-25 NBA Hustle Award. Twenty former teammates, coaches and staffers share their best Steph Curry leadership stories, all with 1 common theme. In a team meeting before Sunday's clinching win, Draymond Green explains he was 'embarrassed' after losing his poise in Game 6. All eyes will be on Anthony Edwards as he and the Wolves try to slow down Stephen Curry and the Warriors in the semifinal matchup. Shaq, Charles, Kenny & others reveal their picks for the conference semifinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Sunday marked the 1st time Jrue Holiday wasn't on the injury report since missing final 3 games of first round. Stay in the know on today's NBA Playoff action with the latest news, scores and highlights from around the league. It's an action-packed Sunday featuring a win-or-go-home matchup in Houston and Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe A former Labor MP turned senior member of the workplace umpire is facing legal action that could stop her dealing with “same job same pay” cases due to her parliamentary attacks on labour hire pay as a rort Three labour hire firms facing union bids to lift pay at Glencore and Whitehaven mines in NSW are taking Fair Work Commission deputy president Terri Butler to the Federal Court on grounds of apprehended bias based on her past comments as a politician SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Read MoreIndustrial relationsWorkplace disputesTerri Butler Executive EducationPowered byLatest In WorkplaceFetching latest articles Stephen Curry and Buddy Hield combined to score 55 points, helping the Warriors break away in the fourth quarter. Houston pulled to within seven points as just over eight minutes remained in regulation, but couldn't cut into the deficit any further as Golden State repeatedly kept the Rockets from building momentum. Fans and pundits were amazed by his late surge. Jimmy Butler also racked up several clutch buckets to keep the Rockets at bay, scoring 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting. He dished out seven assists of his own. Hield helped keep the Warriors' offense afloat through the first two quarters. He ended the night by putting up a game-high 33 points, with 22 coming in the first half. He also shot 9-of-11 from behind the arc. Houston struggled offensively throughout the contest, shooting just 40.5 percent from the field as a team and committing 11 turnovers compared to 14 assists. Alperen Şengün finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds, but was only able to connect on nine of his 23 field-goal attempts. The Rockets are officially eliminated from the playoffs, while the Warriors will advance to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round. The Golden State Warriors pulled out a huge 103-89 win against the Houston Rockets to advance to the next round of the NBA playoffs Fans believe in Golden State after their big victory. Hopes are high for what Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler It wasn’t one of the superstars that made the biggest splash in Game 7 Buddy Hield poured in 33 points and punctuated the game with a dagger three that sent the Rockets home Hield has been trolled endlessly by Butler since he was acquired So he didn’t miss the opportunity to get back at the Warriors star Since his arrival, Jimmy has spoken about being the Robin to Steph’s Batman. Hield himself joked about being an Alfred after Game 3 of their first-round series This paled in comparison to Buddy’s electric performance that saw him make nine three-pointers So when the 35-year-old superstar was about to begin his postgame press conference the man of the moment interrupted him hilariously “Tell them you’re not Robin no more.” Jimmy was shaking his head and saying Buddy Hield welcomes Jimmy Butler to the podium and the two go back-and-forthHield: “Tell them you’re not Robin no more.” pic.twitter.com/vBj5NSE4Rl This joke-feud between the two Warriors players is an excellent sign of the team chemistry Deep postseason runs are built on similar dynamics And while some might feel bad for the six-time NBA All-Star after Hield trolled him he didn’t miss a chance to get a dig in either When asked if Buddy had earned some praise after Game 7 "I plead the Fifth."Jimmy isn't ready to give Buddy any credit 😂 pic.twitter.com/B66AX5naak Golden State will need both of these stars playing at the highest level if they want to get past the Minnesota Timberwolves in the next round. This friendly rivalry remains entertaining for the fans, but the hope will be that they can also use it as motivation to achieve individual and team success. Labor says doctors will earn more than $400,000 a year following the introduction of its $8 billion election promise to increase bulk-billing incentives – a 44 per cent pay rise since it won power three years ago their momentum heading into Game 7 of their first-round matchup against the Houston Rockets as the Rockets have now won two in a row to force a decisive winner-take-all game at the Toyota Center on Sunday Despite Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry combining for 56 points Golden State couldn't find a way to stop Houston's poised offense and eight assists on 7-of-13 shooting from the field Butler made a claim to the media regarding the Game 6 loss and the potential outcome of Sunday's Game 7 He declared that the Warriors haven't lost their readiness to compete despite having lost two games in a row “We were ready to compete tonight," Butler said We’re going to be ready to compete on Sunday and we’re going to make the game go our way.” Jimmy Butler: “We were ready to compete tonight The last time Golden State blew a 3-1 lead in the playoffs was its infamous NBA Finals loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 The difference in those matchups is that the Warriors were at home in 2016's Game 7 Houston has all of the momentum going into Sunday This would be a monumental victory not just for the franchise but for a young core that has surpassed expectations all season long that group will have to show its experience in such a high-stakes matchup Steve Kerr Announces Possible Jonathan Kuminga Decision After Warriors-Rockets Alperen Sengun Joins Celtics Legend in NBA History In Warriors-Rockets Draymond Green Makes NBA History in Warriors-Rockets Game 6 JED KATZJed Katz is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in journalism. He also covers the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, and Houston Rockets for On SI, and hosts the Bleav in Bulls podcast, covering the Chicago Bulls. Health Minister Mark Butler has put private health insurers on notice that they will be forced to tip in up to $1 billion more every year to help struggling private hospitals remain open if Labor wins the federal election Butler said health funds must “urgently” work on lifting the percentage of their premiums they pay to hospitals His comments are the clearest indication that Labor is serious about forcing funds such as Medibank Private Bupa and NIB to tip more money into hospitals After Friday's 115-107 Game 6 loss to the Houston Rockets A lot of teams and players might start to panic in this situation -- as well as Canon Curry. But, as a new leader on an experienced Golden State roster, veteran star Jimmy Butler says he isn't worried whatsoever After Wednesday's Game 5 loss, Butler asserted, "We're fine. Our confidence isn’t going to waver any.” And despite another defeat Friday to force a decisive Game 7 Butler took it one step further -- no matter how many 3-1 jokes the internet will prepare over the next 48 hours "[It's] at an all-time high," Butler told reporters when asked about the Warriors' current confidence level "A couple of us have been here before multiple times Likewise, Golden State forward Draymond Green, who has a 3-2 career record in Game 7s displayed a calm assurance after another disappointing loss "It's a little frustrating," Green explained in his postgame presser Against a much less experienced Rockets squad that mindset could be the difference in Sunday's winner-take-all matchup But the Warriors will need a better performance on the floor if they want that mental advantage to matter You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. Stay on current site or go to US version playDoes Jimmy Butler make the Warriors a title contender (2:02)Brian Windhorst and Monica McNutt break down the Wednesday night trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors the winner is one of the many poker professionals who enter; a titan of venture capital or technology; or owner Joe Lacob's wife hundreds of people all began to pull out their cell phones to see the news and then take videos of the players reacting in real time Curry was stunned he walked to Draymond Green's table and asked whether he had seen the trade so he walked to Curry's table and inspected the post from ESPN's Shams Charania on Curry's phone Dozens of videos of these moments were captured by people in the Chase Center that night and posted on social media Neither Curry nor Green could maintain a poker face -- at least as far as the Doncic trade was concerned But unbeknownst to almost everyone in the room, there was another poker game playing out in the Warriors' world. This one was just as high-stakes as the massive pot the Lakers and Mavericks had just played, and it involved a clandestine motive to make their own trade deadline shocker by landing Kevin Durant By Saturday night, as people around the world were digesting the implications of the massive Doncic trade, multiple sources told ESPN that the Warriors were already deep into negotiations with the Phoenix Suns to reunite Durant with the franchise with which he won two Finals MVPs and championships in 2017 and 2018 The teams had secretly been talking since early that week only learned of the stunning talks when the Suns played the Warriors on Jan So Durant and Curry discussed the idea the next day Curry wanted a read on how Durant would feel about returning to the team he had chosen to leave after the 2019 Finals Durant told him it didn't "feel right" and that this "wasn't the time" to revisit their basketball partnership according to multiple sources with knowledge of the conversations He added he was happy in Phoenix and wasn't looking to play elsewhere It was a soft "no," one that discouraged the Warriors' decision-makers but didn't fully deter them from pursuing talks with the Suns They hoped Durant's feelings about a reunion might change once he learned the extent to which Phoenix had engaged in trade conversations with multiple teams without involving him But with the Suns free-falling in the Western Conference picture the Warriors saw an opportunity to play two hands at once This was a triangle of increasing desperation and rising stakes: one team desperate to end an exhausting one team desperate to upgrade its roster and appease its stars and one team desperate to extend a flailing dynasty by acquiring a new star In the end, the Warriors and Heat chopped the final pot, ending the Butler drama play2:02Does Jimmy Butler make the Warriors a title contender?Brian Windhorst and Monica McNutt break down the Wednesday night trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors there is only one objective: to force your opponent to submit that will go down as the final straw in this saga Miami submitted and agreed a trade was the only way out of the situation. It was yet another stormy exit, similar to his departures from the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves What hasn't been understood is why Butler so badly wanted to leave the franchise he had led to two Finals appearances in six years but you're not around me every day," Butler told ESPN "There's always two sides of every story and only one side's been told." Butler has often spoken publicly in riddles or coded messages Butler's desire to be traded from Miami has been interpreted as a repudiation of Heat culture "I did what I was supposed to do," Butler said "We didn't see eye to eye on some things." Butler was taken aback by the criticism at the time but he insists that's not why he soured on the franchise or Riley "I don't need Pat to make nothing right with me," Butler said They're still going to talk and I'm going to do what I always do and put my head down." In his meetings with Riley and Arison in early January Butler explained that he had grown frustrated with the Heat's inability to acquire more help for him after the 2020 and 2023 Finals runs That frustration grew when he believed the team had deemphasized his role in the offense this season Butler averaged just 56.5 touches this season and brought the ball up the floor just 11.4 possessions per game both his lowest marks in a season since joining the Heat Instead of the offense running through him Butler was used more as a spacer in either corner for 7.6 on-ball screens per game this season his highest mark in a season since joining the Heat His 17.0 points per game was his lowest since 2013-14 Heat sources counter that they had to adjust the offense because Butler missed so many regular-season games. He played an average of just 58 over his first five seasons in Miami. The last time he played 65 -- the NBA's current minimum to qualify for postseason honors -- was 2018-19, when he split the season between Minnesota and Philadelphia.Breaking News from Shams Charania Download the ESPN app and enable Shams Charania's news alerts to receive push notifications for the latest updates first. Opt in by tapping the alerts bell in the top right corner. For more information, click here While Butler was frustrated by a reduced role Heat sources insist that Riley's message to Butler throughout the season was that he needed to be more involved with the team he asked to rehab at his home in Southern California He didn't want to rehab in hotels for the long road trip to Minnesota and the Heat had previously granted him such leeway team sources said Riley declined the request insisting that it was important that he stay connected to the team while he rehabilitated Butler did not take it well. But he continued his strong play for the Heat once he returned -- even putting up a monstrous 35-point, 19-rebound, 10-assist game against Detroit on Dec The next game was a fateful one against Oklahoma City that started the clock on what would become a six-week chess match. Butler played just seven minutes and didn't attempt a shot Riley tried to convince Butler to stay the rest of the season The Heat walloped Butler with a stunning seven-game suspension infuriating the players' union and leading to a filing of a grievance But Riley had hoped to mend fences and posited that if the meeting went well there was a chance they could end the suspension early and Butler could fly to Salt Lake City the next day and join the team Riley has a long history of challenging players including interludes with players such as O'Neal and Wade Arison had seen Riley work and hoped he and Butler could come to an understanding Arison made plans to dock in the Bahamas so Butler could fly out to meet him But the meeting didn't go well, sources said. Butler reiterated his trade request and said he would never sign another contract with the team There are differing accounts of exactly what transpired in the meetings between Riley and Butler and the subsequent meeting between Butler and the Arisons -- Micky and Nick -- on Jan Everyone agrees that each meeting contained emotional The Athletic earlier Friday morning reported that Butler described Riley as "unhinged" during their meeting Heat sources told ESPN that the same word -- "unhinged" -- is how they described Butler's behavior in his meeting with the Arisons and the $110 million remaining on his contract that came with a no-trade clause The Suns knew trading Beal was going to be difficult He was steadfast in his desire to use his no-trade clause to stay in Phoenix the Suns tried to construct multiteam trades that would land Butler in Phoenix and Beal on some other team But when the Heat would cross-check with the teams Beal would supposedly join in these constructions What was the point of discussing specifics if Phoenix hadn't yet solved the biggest impediment to the deal: Beal's no-trade clause?Jimmy Butler traded to Golden StateThe Jimmy Butler saga has come to an end with the Heat trading him to the Warriors as part of a massive who had discussed trading for Beal in 2023 before he landed in Phoenix in part for the same reason they stopped their initial pursuit of him Beal had indicated that even if he'd waive his no-trade clause to facilitate a move now Of all the teams Phoenix canvassed, sources said only the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks would consider taking on Beal if he'd waive his no-trade clause to go there hoping that if they could improve their package to incentivize these teams to participate and other trades the Wizards and Hawks were working on fell through then maybe there would be a path to a deal there was still the matter of whether Beal would waive his no-trade clause and accept the trade The Heat stayed patient throughout this process but never relented on being unwilling to take back Beal -- and his no-trade clause -- in what would've been a simple 1-for-1 trade taking the Heat's refusal to make a deal with Phoenix and send him where he wanted to go as a personal affront the Heat had been talking to other teams about "concepts" for Butler Each of those teams had an interest in Butler but were leery of proceeding with a formal offer if he preferred to be elsewhere Miami liked Golden State's concept, which centered on Andrew Wiggins and the Warriors' 2025 first-round pick small forward the Heat would need to replace Butler There was an irony to this. When Butler first came to the Heat in summer 2019 Butler was in Riley's office celebrating the signing of the four-year $142 million deal that landed him in Miami The two men cracked open a bottle of Screaming Eagle cabernet from Riley's personally curated wine cellar inside the Heat offices and he asked Butler who was his most talented teammate 1 pick and his teammate with the Timberwolves and joked that Butler might need to be cut off from any more wine Wiggins has gone on to become an All-Star and NBA champion, though his previous two seasons left the Warriors looking for an upgrade. From the Heat's perspective, he didn't need the ball as much as Butler, which Miami believed would make for a seamless transition on a team that has been led offensively this season by first-time All-Star Tyler Herro and the Suns no closer to convincing Washington or Atlanta to take Beal the Heat engaged more seriously with Golden State That's when Miami learned that the Suns and Warriors were deep into negotiations for Durant the Suns believed they had to do something the 28-year-old who became the franchise's leading scorer over the weekend And because Beal was proving impossible to move they began to explore trading Durant with the Warriors and other teams THERE IS NO good way to move a future Hall of Fame player who has professed a desire to stay with your franchise despite a second straight underachieving season But there are definitely bad ways to go about it and having them find out through other sources would qualify as a bad process "We should've gone through [Durant's business partner Durant had to send a final word he had no desire for a reunion with the Warriors and did not want to go back to the Bay Area "Probably the same reasons he left," a Warriors source conceded would have been open to playing for the Heat so Miami debated cutting the Warriors out and dealing Butler to Phoenix for Durant Riley, after all, had wanted Durant for years. In 2016, Riley landed one of the famous meetings in the Hamptons where Durant took pitches from various teams and the Warriors closed by getting Curry to sell Durant on a partnership. Riley had tried again in 2019 when Durant left Golden State for the Brooklyn Nets but Riley pulled off a shrewd sign-and-trade for Butler that summer instead which paid for Durant in 2023 with four first-round picks and three pick swaps to Brooklyn was seeking significant compensation for the player who is now 36 and under contract for just one more season the Heat felt they would be mortgaging their future by going down the path with Durant The third attempt to land Durant would not be the charm for Riley and Heat wanted the Warriors' 2025 first-round pick This is one of the problems with multiteam trades -- sometimes two teams want the same piece uneasy at the steep price Phoenix was asking for Durant Golden State debated acquiring Butler from Miami in a standalone deal then using him as leverage in its conversations with Phoenix for Durant This would've effectively blocked the Suns' long-standing desire to pair Durant with Butler and given some leverage to the Warriors as they angled to get a Durant deal done Miami and Golden State iced out Phoenix and did the deal for Butler they had talked about for weeks The Heat were comfortable with the package they had discussed with Golden State centered on Wiggins and the Warriors' top-10-protected draft pick The last piece was getting Butler totally on board and that happened Wednesday morning when Golden State started discussions on a new contract for Butler two years and $111 million and time for more Screaming Eagle The Warriors were in Utah getting ready for a game against the Jazz when the trade was agreed upon Curry was in the middle of his famous pregame shooting routine Kerr called his team into the locker room to inform everyone of the trade "You develop these relationships with guys They give you everything and commit to the team having agreed to Durant's wishes to avoid a reunion word started to leak that Butler was nearing a contract agreement a sign the Warriors would be landing him and the Suns were out For weeks they had exhausted themselves in discussions to find a way to turn Beal into Butler several times thinking they might have a pathway in sight they explored turning Durant into Butler and other pieces that could've retrofitted their roster and given them some options this season and beyond The Suns had scored some major transactional victories over the previous two years. They landed Durant in a blockbuster. They won an inventive bidding war for Beal. They creatively pulled in Royce O'Neale in a nice piece of business last February. Over the summer, they scored when they got Tyus Jones to come for a minimum contract who wanted to stay in Phoenix and make it work Durant was "blindsided," as Charania reported on "NBA Today," that the Suns had trade discussions about him Durant did not change his mind about reuniting with the Warriors But hampered by the realities of second apron restrictions what was once a three-handed final table turned heads-up play0:35Jimmy Butler: I'm very happy I'm not getting suspended anymoreJimmy Butler talks for the first time since his trade to the Warriors and expresses how eager he is to return to the court BUTLER RUSHED THROUGH Los Angeles traffic Thursday night to meet his new team the Warriors would have time to introduce him publicly before their 7 p.m beaming as he walked past the marquee inside Crypto.com Arena "I'm so happy," he told ESPN's Malika Andrews who asked whether he was happy to be there or happy to be out of Miami when they acquired him to jolt their flailing dynasty letting the free-spirited power forward be himself while also earning his trust and buy-in to the team's concepts It's not hard to imagine a worst-case scenario The Warriors are tied with Sacramento for 10th in the West and the final play-in tournament slot Butler said all the right things about his respect for the Warriors' championship pedigree but he used to say good things about Heat culture The Suns and Durant are still uncomfortably together "You want somebody to want you to help you win to let you be the player that you are capable of being I get to be that here and I'm going to be that here for a long time "You would hope that that's what that was in Miami but it's not That chapter is behind me and we're going to turn the page." GSW (7)Jimmy Butler exits Game 2 with pelvis contusion status for Game 3 unclearButler was able to get up gingerly and limped his way to the free throw line Jimmy Butler exited Game 2 with a pelvic contusion after a hard fall and coach Steve Kerr wasn't sure if he would be available for Game 3 HOUSTON (AP) — Golden State’s Jimmy Butler sustained a pelvis contusion after taking a hard fall on a foul by Amen Thompson late in the first quarter and missed the rest of the Warriors’ 109-94 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night Coach Steve Kerr said he wasn’t sure if Butler would be available for Game 3 on Saturday He’s scheduled to have an MRI exam Thursday “Jimmy always says he’s going to be fine,” Kerr said “But we have to wait to see with the MRI.” Butler was injured when Thompson was pushed into his legs as he jumped to try and grab a rebound Both players crashed to the court in the collision but Butler stayed down longer than Thompson He eventually got up and slowly walked to the other end of the court to shoot free throws Butler made 1 of 2 and was soon taken out of the game and immediately headed to the locker room Kerr doesn’t believe that Thompson intended to hurt Butler “We didn’t think there was anything wrong with the play,” Kerr said who had three points and two rebounds before leaving seven rebounds and six assists in Golden State’s 95-85 win in Game 1 Kerr said it’s way too early for him to think about what the Warriors will do if Butler can’t go Saturday but if not we have to go through our options and put together a plan,” he said who sat out for much of the first half dealing with a stomach ailment Kerr said before the game that the starting guard was struggling with a stomach problem because of something he ate and said afterward that he received an IV at halftime The 2025 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament took place April 15-18 The NBA Playoffs continue with the Conference Semifinals starting on May 4 A steady dose of Stephen Curry and a bit of 'Playoff Jimmy' down the stretch pushes Golden State past Houston in Game 1 hard-fought series between 2 of the NBA's best defensive teams in 2024-25 Our Op Shop is designed with the local community in mind We’re not just creating a space to browse and shop for treasures; we’re crafting an environment where everyone can connect Our vision is to offer a welcoming space where you can shop and participate in a variety of activities that enrich the local area.  Stay up to date on how Save the Children is creating a world where every child has a safe and happy childhood *Save the Children Australia’s total expenditure for year ended 31 December 2023 expressed as a percentage. 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