The Golden State Warriors' supporting cast remained competitive until the closing minutes of Tuesday’s 124-114 loss to the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder after losing Jimmy Butler for the game with a knee injury late in the first half. The Warriors were already without Stephen Curry, who suffered a quad injury against the Houston Rockets on Nov. 26.

Following the game, coach Steve Kerr updated the media with vague details on Butler’s injury and explained that he didn’t even know Butler was out until the team was preparing to step back onto the floor during a timeout late in the first half. 

“Hurt his knee, left knee,” Kerr said. “I don't know anything more. I didn't even know until I got out there and I was drawing up a play with a minute to go, somebody came in the huddle and said Jimmy’s down in the training room. Then Rick (Celebrini) told me he was going to be out the rest of the half.”

With their two best players out for the second half against a Thunder team that has now won 21 of their first 22 games this season, the Warriors received significant contributions from an unlikely cast of characters. Chief among those was Steph’s brother, Seth Curry, who debuted on Tuesday after being re-signed by the team this week. Seth was also with the team during training camp.

The younger Curry tallied 14 points off the bench and was the most efficient Warrior for the evening by far, making 6-of-7 attempts from the field overall and 3-of-4 from 3-point range. While Seth may not be as feared as his older brother, Kerr made it clear that the family’s shooting genes certainly didn’t pass him over.

“He comes from the greatest shooting family in the history of basketball,” Kerr said. “So you know he’s a pro. The guy’s been around for a long time and he’s helped win a lot of games for a lot of teams. He kept himself ready. He just knows how to play, he’s in the right place at the right time, he doesn't turn it over, he’s a good passer. He fights defensively. It’s great to have him.”

While playing in any NBA game comes with an otherworldly amount of pressure, the fact that Seth was able to start hot in front of a crowd that has so much reverence for his family certainly helped ease the tensions and presumably helped his shots fall through the net. 

“The fans showed me a lot of love when I stepped on the floor,” Seth Curry said. “It felt good to get out there and make my first shot, kind of ease the pressure a little bit. Then from there I’m just playing basketball. I’m trying to get out there and help the team play well and get a win. Unfortunately we didn't do that but there was some positive stuff out there from everybody.”