As the Western Conference playoff series between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets heats up, both teams face critical injury concerns. The Warriors are grappling with the absence of star forward Jimmy Butler due to a pelvic injury, which sidelined him for Game 3. In his absence, Stephen Curry led the charge with an impressive 36 points and 9 assists, helping the Warriors secure a 2-1 series lead. Support came from Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II, contributing 17 and 16 points, respectively, while the team defense played a key role in limiting the Rockets to just 93 points.

On the other side, the Rockets received a slight boost as center Jock Landale was upgraded to 'probable' for Game 4 after battling a knee injury, indicating a 75% chance of playing. Landale's presence may be significant as he adds size to the Rockets' lineup, who are looking to exploit the Warriors' interior defense. The matchup is underlined by the importance of injuries as both teams prepare for a crucial game that could shift the momentum in this playoff series.