Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler is expected to miss Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs due to a deep gluteal contusion. Fortunately, the MRI results showed that he did not suffer any fractures or structural damage.

Butler was injured unexpectedly in the Golden State Warriors' 94-109 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. At the end of the first quarter, he was knocked to the ground by Amen Thompson while competing for a rebound, resulting in a pelvic contusion. Butler insisted on completing two free throws, then left the court and returned to the locker room.

Although the news has not been officially confirmed, it was first disclosed by ESPN's Shams Charania. NBA veteran reporter Mark Spears shared on ESPN's "NBA Today" program: "There is still a glimmer of hope. Jimmy Butler's agent Bernie Lee sent me a text message, 'Pray for the bear,' which made me optimistic about Butler's injury."

'Pray for the bear' comes from "If you see me in a fight with a bear, pray for the bear", which is an exaggerated and humorous English expression. The expression was also used by Kobe Bryant to show his determination to overcome adversity.

As for the specific time of return, injury expert Nirav Pandya said it will depend on the degree of pain. He also pointed out that deep gluteal muscle contusion requires an average of about 5.2 days of rest, which means Butler is likely to miss a game.