The Golden State Warriors will play their first game without Jimmy Butler, who was ruled out of Saturday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers because of back spasms. Head coach Steve Kerr said Butler began experiencing back issues when he took a hit from Orlando's Wendell Carter Jr.

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.

The Warriors' defeat to the Joel Embiid-less Sixers was proof of just how important Jimmy Butler has become to this team over the last few weeks. Since Butler's arrival in a blockbuster deadline deal, the Warriors are 7-1 with him in the lineup, and their only loss was by four points to the Dallas Mavericks .