Golden State Warriors secured a 135-112 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday at Chase Center, but the win came at a significant cost as star forward Jimmy Butler suffered a torn right ACL. NBA insider Shams Charania confirmed the injury, which will sideline Butler for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
Butler went down awkwardly after a collision with Davion Mitchell midway through the third quarter, having already scored 17 points. He needed assistance from teammates Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield to leave the court, unable to bear weight on his injured knee.
The Warriors were already without Draymond Green, who sat out as a precaution for a right ankle sprain. Despite the setback, Stephen Curry posted 19 points and 11 assists, while Brandin Podziemski scored a season-high 24 points with six rebounds. Hield added 16 points to help secure the win.
Andrew Wiggins returned to Chase Center and scored 18 points for the Heat, with Norman Powell contributing 21 points as Miami dropped its fourth consecutive road game. The Heat, now 7-14 outside South Florida, open a five-game West Coast trip with a Tuesday matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
Butler’s injury marks a major loss for Golden State, who now face the challenge of navigating the Western Conference without their primary scorer and floor leader. The team shot 52% from the field and 47% from three, showing resilience in the wake of losing their All-Star forward.
The game featured heightened emotions, with tempers flaring among reserves in the final seconds. Butler’s injury overshadowed the Warriors’ Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, which the team has hosted 13 times in 14 seasons.
Golden State, now 24-19 and eighth in the West, will host the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.
