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Golden State Warriors wing Jimmy Butler reportedly suffered a season-ending ACL tear during his team's win against the Miami Heat Monday (January 19) night, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN's Shams Charania.
"Breaking: Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler has suffered a season-ending torn right ACL, sources tell ESPN," Charania wrote on his X account early Tuesday (January 20) morning.
Butler sustained the injury with 7:41 remaining in the third quarter, leaping to grab an entry pass in the middle of the paint and crashing into Heat guard Davion Mtchell, at which point he appeared to twist his right knee while landing.
Butler was eventually helped up by teammates and slowly walked to the locker room, visibly unable to put weight on his right leg, but joked to nearby officials that he was owed two free throws after the injury occurred.
"He was still cracking jokes over there while he was on the ground," Warriors guard Stephen Curry told reporters after the game via ESPN. "In true Jimmy fashion, he's always gonna have a good time no matter what the situation is."
Teammates Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga draped Butler's arms over their shoulders and guided him down a tunnel to a wheelchair located near the Warriors' locker room entrance. The 36-year-old left Chase Center to get an MRI, which confirmed the feared ACL tear, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said the team was "concerned" and "subdued" after the veteran wing went down with the injury and the team awaited answers. The Warriors have recently been on a hot streak, winning 12 of their last 16 games, with Butler averaging 21.3 points on 53% shooting in January and recording 17 points in 21 minutes during Monday's game against the Heat, one of his four former teams.
The six-time All-Star was acquired by the Warriors in a trade with the Heat last February, at which point he agreed to a two-year, $111 million extension to complete the deal.