Sources: Warriors' Jimmy Butler tears ACL, ending season - ESPN

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors wing Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending torn right ACL in Monday night's 135-112 win over the Miami Heat, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania, effectively throwing the future direction of the franchise into question.

Butler's injury came at the 7:41 mark of the third quarter. He leaped to grab an entry pass in the middle of the paint and collided with Heat guard Davion Mitchell, and his right knee appeared to twist on the landing, sending him sprawling to the court in agony.

Butler remained down for a couple of minutes as his teammates surrounded him in a stunned Chase Center. He eventually was pulled to his feet and slowly helped to the locker room, unable to put weight on his right leg while he laughed with nearby officials that he was owed two free throws.

«He was still cracking jokes over there while he was on the ground,» Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. «In true Jimmy fashion, he's always gonna have a good time no matter what the situation is.»

As Butler reached the bench area, teammates Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga draped his arms over their shoulders and helped him down the tunnel to a wheelchair near the locker room entrance.

Butler left the arena to get an MRI on his right knee, which confirmed the ACL tear, sources told ESPN, a devastating blow for a team that Warriors coach Steve Kerr described as «concerned» and «subdued» while awaiting news about one of its leaders.

The injury comes as the surging Warriors (25-19) have won 12 of their past 16 games, beginning a climb back up the standings due in part to Butler's recent performance.

Butler, 36, entered Monday averaging 21.3 points on 53% shooting in January. He put up 17 points in 21 minutes against his former