Jimmy Butler III got negative news for his availability in the Golden State Warriors' matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.
Butler is midway through the 15th season of his NBA career, his second with the Warriors. He has been efficient as the second option in the offense behind Stephen Curry, providing valuable production on both sides of the ball.
However, Butler's presence won't be active in Golden State's showdown against Charlotte. NBA insider Brett Siegel reported that the veteran star has personal reasons that will have him be absent from the contest.
“Jimmy Butler (personal reasons) will miss tonight’s Warriors-Hornets game,” Siegel wrote.
How Warriors played against Hornets without Jimmy Butler
The Warriors held down the fort for Jimmy Butler III, blowing out the Hornets in a convincing 136-116 victory.
Golden State got off to a hot start, taking a 39-28 lead after the first quarter. They controlled the momentum and never looked back, performing strong on both sides of the ball to overwhelm Charlotte all night.
Seven players scored in double-digits for Golden State in the win. De'Anthony Melton led the team with a stat line of 24 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. He shot 8-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. Draymond Green came next with 20 points and six assists, Brandin Podziemski had 16 points and seven assists, while Stephen Curry provided 14 points and five assists.
Golden State improved to a 24-19 record on the season, holding the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers while trailing the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.
Rolling with three consecutive wins, the Warriors will look forward to their next matchup. They host the Miami Heat on Jan. 19 at 10 p.m. ET.
