The Golden State Warriors face a demanding test against the Sacramento Kings, playing their second game in 24 hours during a grueling stretch of 15 games in 26 days. The Warriors, with a 5-3 record and ranked 20th in pace, face the struggling Kings, who are 2-5 so far in the West. But for the Warriors to win this, they need their starting five to fire. But will Jimmy Butler be suiting up tonight?

Is Jimmy Butler playing tonight against the Kings?

Jimmy Butler might not play in Wednesday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. He is officially listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. This is due to lower back soreness that forced him to exit Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns early.

Butler left the Suns game at the 7:04 mark during the second quarter and did not return. He was seen on the bench with a heat pack on his back during the second half. The team officially announced his status during the game, reporting, “Status alert: Jimmy Butler (back) won’t return Tuesday.”

Before his early exit, Butler had played 14 minutes against Phoenix, recording 2 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, which again impacted his season’s 20+ average down to 19 points per game. But his absence tonight continues the pattern of the Warriors carefully managing their veteran players’ workloads early in the season.

What happened to Jimmy Butler vs the Suns?

Butler entered Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns already listed as questionable with lower back soreness. The issue worsened during the first half, leading to his early removal from the contest.

The Warriors have been monitoring Butler’s workload carefully this season, given his age of 36 years. The team has expressed concern about fatigue management for their veteran core, which includes Butler, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green.

Even Steph Curry highlighted how the team is pushing itself with such a tight schedule.  When asked about his conversations with team management regarding rest, Curry said, “We’ve only had one. So, a lot of it is kind of the standard understanding how the schedule’s going, how we’re feeling physically, mentally.”

Even Coach Steve Kerr had previously identified exhaustion as an area of focus, stating after an earlier loss that “It looked to me like fatigue, mental, physical fatigue… It just didn’t feel like we had our usual pop.” The back-to-back schedule appears to have exacerbated Butler’s back issue.

Golden State Warriors vs Sacramento Kings Injury Report for Nov. 5

Warriors injury report

The Golden State Warriors will be without multiple key players. Stephen Curry has been ruled out due to illness, with Coach Kerr stating, “I don’t care what the doctors say. We got to get him some rest. He’s not playing tomorrow.” Curry admitted after Tuesday’s game that his “gas tank was on E.”

Beyond Butler and Curry, the Warriors also list Al Horford as out with a toe injury. Alex Toohey and De’Anthony Melton remain sidelined with their respective knee issues. Draymond Green, too, is considered questionable for the contest.

Kings injury report

The Sacramento Kings have their own injury concerns. Both Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis are listed as questionable with back soreness and rib contusion, respectively. Keegan Murray remains out with a thumb injury that has kept him sidelined all season.

Predicted Lineups for Warriors vs Kings for Nov. 5

The projected starting lineups for both teams are as follows.

These lineups account for the confirmed absences of Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry for Golden State, and assume the questionable Kings players can suit up.

Where to Watch the Warriors vs Kings Game?

Fans can tune in to watch the game through the following options.

Date: Wednesday, November 5

Time: 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time / 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time

Where to Watch: The game will be broadcast locally on NBC Sports Bay Area for Warriors fans and NBC Sports California for Kings fans.

Live Stream: Viewers can also stream the game live using NBA League Pass, Fubo, or Peacock.

Match Preview & What to Expect

The Golden State Warriors enter with a 5-3 record after defeating Phoenix last night, but face significant roster challenges. The team is just 1-3 on the road this season and will be without its two leading scorers. Curry averages 26.8 points per game while Butler contributes 19.0 points.

The Sacramento Kings hold a 2-5 record and are beginning a five-game homestand. They’re coming off a close 130-124 loss to Denver, where Russell Westbrook recorded 26 points and 12 rebounds. The Kings have struggled defensively, ranking in the bottom half of the league in defensive rating.

With the Warriors missing their top two scorers and playing the second night of a back-to-back, the prediction is for the Sacramento Kings to secure a victory at home only if the Warriors let it slip from the start.