PHILADELPHIA — In the visitor’s locker room at Wells Fargo Center, a television flashed “Welcome Back” messages to all the Warriors returning to Philadelphia. Buddy Hield, Jerry Stackhouse, Ron Adams, video coordinator Lainn Wilson, and Jimmy Butler.
Butler played only 55 games for the Sixers in the 2018-19 season, but he made a major impact with Joel Embiid, taking Philadelphia to seven games in the Western Conference Semifinals in the game remembered for Kawhi Leonard’s game-winning shot.
He won’t get to bring back memories for Sixers fans on Saturday.
Butler was ruled out due to back spasms ahead of tipoff, marking his first missed game as a Warrior. Golden State is 7-1 in games he has played since coming aboard in the trade that sent Andrew Wiggins to Miami.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said he doesn’t think Butler’s injury will be a long-term ordeal and described it as day-to-day for now.
As a Warrior, Butler is averaging 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. His all-around floor game has changed the trajectory of Golden State’s season that was going nowhere before he joined the team.
The 35-year-old wing hasn’t played 65 games in a season since 2019, managing various injuries throughout the years.
The Warriors began the day tied with the Clippers for the sixth seed (though Los Angeles has the head-to-head tiebreaker) and has been one of the league’s best teams since trading for Butler. Golden State ranks second in net rating in the eight games since the trade.
Along with Butler, the Warriors are without Jonathan Kuminga, who’s nearing a return from a severe ankle sprain that has sidelined him since Jan. 4. The fourth-year forward could return on this current road trip that includes a back-to-back in Charlotte and New York and ends in Brooklyn on Thursday.
Philadelphia is without Joel Embiid, the former MVP who’s out for the season with chronic knee issues. Rookie guard Jared McCain has also been out for the year and Eric Gordon, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Kyle Lowry are inactive.
