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Warriors F Jimmy Butler III undergoes MRI on injured knee

Tue Jan 20 3:49am ET
Field Level Media

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III underwent an MRI after injuring his right knee on Monday.

"We're all really concerned," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after his team beat the Miami Heat 135-112 in San Francisco. "We'll know more after the MRI, obviously. We don't know anything at this point.

"Everybody is subdued because of the injury, waiting, waiting to hear the news."

Butler had a team-best 17 points when he wrenched his right knee going after the ball under the Warriors' basket with 7:41 left in the third quarter. He went down on the court in pain and was helped to the locker room.


The six-time All-Star has a history of injuries to the same knee, a torn meniscus in February 2018 and sprained medial collateral ligament in April 2024.

Butler, 36, is averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists through 38 games this season. A five-time All-Defensive Team selection, he is playing for his fifth NBA team in his 15-year career, and he owns career averages of 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists.

The Warriors earned their season-best fourth consecutive win on Monday, improving to 25-19. They sit in eighth place in the Western Conference, which would be a play-in position, 1 1/2 games back of sixth place and the final guaranteed playoff spot.

Golden State concludes an eight-game homestand when the Toronto Raptors visit on Tuesday. The Warriors then embark on a four-game trip to Dallas, Minnesota (two games) and Utah.

Player Notes
Kristaps Porzingis Tue Jan 20 7:10am

Atlanta Hawks forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles) will be re-evaluated in one week, the team announced on Monday. The Latvian veteran has missed six games and is expected to sit out at least a couple of more contests. Porzingis departed the lineup in early January due to left Achilles tendinitis. In his absence, Mouhamed Gueye and Asa Newell have received more work in the frontcourt. However, the two have minimal fantasy appeal and won't be relevant for managers while Onyeka Okongwu is healthy.

Tyler Herro Tue Jan 20 7:00am

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (ribs) is out indefinitely with a costochondral issue with his ribs. He has missed two games and isn't expected to play during the team's current road trip, which has four more stops this week. Pelle Larsson has been starting during Herro's absence, though his fantasy production can fluctuate. In Monday's loss to the Golden State Warriors, Larsson had nine points, five rebounds, and three assists in 28 minutes. Simone Fontecchio's role has also grown in recent games, with the Italian posting back-to-back 13-point games.

Jalen Williams Tue Jan 20 7:00am

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) will be re-evaluated in two weeks. He exited the lineup for Monday's matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers and will be sidelined for at least six more games. Health issues have bothered Williams all season, limiting him to 24 appearances. He has averaged 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 29.6 minutes. With him out, Jaylin Williams received the starting nod on Monday but played only eight minutes. Meanwhile, Kenrich Williams' workload increased to 21 minutes. In Monday's game, the defending champions also lost Alex Caruso (back), so more tweaks could be coming in the rotation.

Jimmy Butler Tue Jan 20 6:50am

Golden State Warriors guard/forward Jimmy Butler III (knee) tore his right ACL in Monday's win over the Miami Heat and is out for the rest of the season, Anthony Slater of ESPN.com reports. This is very unfortunate news for the veteran, who entered Monday averaging 21.3 points on 53 percent shooting this month. He has notched 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals across the season. Butler III will be on a huge $56.8 million next season, but he could miss a large chunk of the campaign. The Warriors will look for more production from Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II going forward.

Naz Reid Mon Jan 19 7:30pm

Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (shoulder) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Tuesday's game against the Utah Jazz. Reid was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's game due to a left shoulder injury. He wasn't able to return to the court and is now uncertain for Tuesday's game. Fellow big man Rudy Gobert (hip) has been removed from the injury report after sitting out of Saturday's game. He could see a few extra minutes if Reid is unable to play on Tuesday. Joan Beringer could see more minutes as well, but is an inconsistent fantasy option.

Rudy Gobert Mon Jan 19 7:20pm

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (hip) does not carry an injury designation into Tuesday's game against the Utah Jazz. Gobert sat out Saturday's game due to a bruised left hip, but he is cleared to play now. The Wolves are glad Gobert only missed one game as they can't afford to have him sidelined for a lengthy amount of time. This season, Gobert is averaging 11.0 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 31.7 minutes per game. Fellow big man Naz Reid (shoulder) is questionable for Tuesday's game. Gobert could absorb some extra minutes if Reid is unable to play in that one.

Christian Braun Mon Jan 19 7:10pm

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (ankle) is ruled out ahead of Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. This will mark the sixth straight game that Braun has missed due to an ankle injury. He continues to be limited to non-contact work, so he could be sidelined for a while longer. The Nuggets are banged up right now, so Braun's absence will probably be filled with a committee approach. Bruce Brown, Jalen Pickett, and Spencer Jones should all continue seeing increased work in the rotation. Pickett is the best streaming choice among the three guards right now. Jones and Brown should be viewed as more of deep league options.

Joel Embiid Mon Jan 19 6:50pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) will play on Monday against the Indiana Pacers. The team has upgraded his status on the injury report from questionable to available, and he is listed to start ahead of tonight's matchup. Embiid last faced the Pacers on Dec. 12, posting 39 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 32 minutes. Fantasy managers should expect the 31-year-old star big man to have another strong outing this evening, as he's averaged 26.0 points across his last five games.

Jalen Green Mon Jan 19 6:40pm

Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (hamstring) will make his return to the court for Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, according to Duane Rankin. Green will miss the first leg of the back-to-back set, but is expected to suit up for the second contest. Green hasn't played since November 8 due to a right hamstring strain. The expectation is that Green is going to be limited for a few games until he gets back to full speed. His return to the court should shift Collin Gillespie back to the bench, while Grayson Allen and Jordan Goodwin see fewer minutes. Fantasy managers who have been stashing Green for the last few months will finally be able to get him back in their lineups on Tuesday.

Day'Ron Sharpe Mon Jan 19 6:40pm

Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe (illness) is unavailable for Monday's game against the Phoenix Suns. The 24-year-old big man is feeling under the weather and has a throat contusion. During his last appearance on Sunday, Sharpe finished with five points, five rebounds, and four assists across 19 minutes in a 124-102 loss to the Bulls. When Sharpe is available, he doesn't offer much fantasy value, averaging 17.9 minutes per contest.

Draymond Green Mon Jan 19 6:30pm

Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (ankle) has been downgraded to out ahead of Monday's game against the Miami Heat. Green was originally probable, but got downgraded to questionable later in the day. Now, Green will officially sit this game out due to a right ankle sprain. The Warriors will likely use a committee approach to fill the void in the rotation. Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Al Horford are all candidates to see extended playing time. Among the trio, Horford has been the most consistent contributor among the big men. Horford is worth a look as a streaming option for Monday's slate with Green on the bench.

Devin Booker Mon Jan 19 6:00pm

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (ankle) is available to play ahead of Monday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. Booker will shed the questionable tag despite dealing with ankle soreness. On Saturday, the 29-year-old star guard finished with 27 points, four assists, four rebounds and one steal across 38 minutes in a 106-99 win over the Knicks. Even with the injury, Booker should log plenty of minutes and continue to be a force for fantasy managers during tonight's tilt in Brooklyn.

Paul George Mon Jan 19 5:40pm

Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Paul George (knee) is unavailable for Monday's matchup with the Indiana Pacers. George will sit out tonight's contest due to left knee injury management after he had played in three consecutive games. He is averaging 15.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals across 29.8 minutes per game across 23 outings this campaign. With George out of action, more scoring opportunities will likely come to Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre as they will have heavier workloads in the Sixers frontcourt this evening.

Draymond Green Mon Jan 19 5:30pm

Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (ankle) has been downgraded to questionable ahead of Monday's matchup with the Miami Heat. The 35-year-old veteran has played in eight of nine Warriors games in January, but with his status downgraded to questionable, he is in danger of missing tonight's tilt. If Green is unable to suit up, Golden State's frontcourt will have to rely on Quinten Post, Al Horford, and Trayce Jackson-Davis to take on extra minutes.

Zaccharie Risacher Mon Jan 19 8:40am

Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (knee) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Milwaukee as he continues to recover from a bruised left knee. His ongoing absence keeps Vit Krejci in the starting lineup, though the fantasy return has been modest. Krejci has averaged 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists across his last five starts while logging 21.9 minutes per game. The minutes are stable, but the low usage and limited peripheral stats cap him as a deep-league option until Risacher is cleared.

De'Anthony Melton Mon Jan 19 8:40am

Golden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton (knee) will sit out the front end of the team's back-to-back set, with his next opportunity to play coming Tuesday against Toronto. His absence nudges minutes and usage across a crowded wing rotation. Brandin Podziemski stands to benefit most after producing 16 points, six rebounds, and seven assists in 30 minutes on Friday, while Buddy Hield, Gary Payton II, and Will Richard should also see added run. The rotation remains fluid, keeping all three as situational fantasy options.

Daniel Gafford Mon Jan 19 8:30am

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) will sit out Monday against New York, extending his absence to three games as he continues to work through a right ankle sprain, with Thursday against Golden State next on the schedule. Dallas remains thin up front with Anthony Davis (finger) and P.J. Washington (personal) sidelined. Dwight Powell logged 10 points and eight rebounds in 27 minutes Friday, while Moussa Cisse posted 10 points and 13 rebounds in 23 minutes earlier this week. Both remain deep-league options with volatile roles.

PJ Washington Mon Jan 19 8:20am

Dallas Mavericks forward/center P.J. Washington (personal) has been ruled out for Monday's matchup against New York and will miss a second straight game while addressing a personal matter, with Thursday against Golden State next on the schedule. His continued absence leaves Naji Marshall with increased playing time, and the versatile wing logged 16 points, five rebounds, and six assists in 29 minutes Saturday. Marshall's consistent minutes and multi-category contributions give him short-term fantasy relevance while Washington remains sidelined.

Sam Merrill Mon Jan 19 8:10am

Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Sam Merrill (hand) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Oklahoma City, marking his second straight absence with a right-hand sprain, though he remains day-to-day. With Darius Garland (toe) also sidelined, Cleveland's backcourt rotation stays thin, and usage is redistributed. Jaylon Tyson continues to benefit most, coming off a 39-point outing in 38 minutes Friday while handling a larger offensive role. Lonzo Ball and Craig Porter Jr. should see added minutes off the bench but remain situational fantasy plays due to volatile production.

Jalen Williams Mon Jan 19 8:00am

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Cleveland after exiting Saturday early, with additional testing confirming a right hamstring strain and no clear return timeline. His absence opens perimeter minutes and usage, pushing Ajay Mitchell into a larger role after he posted 15 points in 28 minutes Friday. Aaron Wiggins offers scoring upside, while Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso provide defensive stats with volatile offensive returns. Mitchell profiles as the strongest short-term add.


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