GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

The Golden State Warriors are hoping two days of rest will enable guard Jimmy Butler to return to the lineup for Game 3 of their first-round NBA playoff series against the Houston Rockets.

Butler left Wednesday’s game late in the first quarter and did not return after being undercut on a rebound attempt and landing hard on his tailbone.

After the foul by Houston’s Amen Thompson, Butler got up gingerly and limped to the free throw line. He converted one of two foul shots, then left the game and headed straight to the locker room. He’s scheduled to have an MRI on Thursday.

“Hopefully, he’s OK,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game. “We’ll see. … Jimmy always says he’s going to be fine. But we have to wait and see with the MRI.”

Jimmy Butler status will impact Game 3

Butler was acquired in February from the Miami Heat to give the Warriors a veteran presence with playoff experience, as well as take some of the scoring pressure off Stephen Curry.

All things Warriors: Latest Golden State Warriors news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

However, Kerr said that if Butler is ruled out for Game 3, “we’ll have to rethink everything.”

The series, tied at one game apiece, resumes on Saturday in San Francisco

JEFF ZILLGITT: Rockets win football game on basketball court, even series

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.