After Game 5 loss, Warriors accuse Rockets of targeting Steph Curry’s injured thumb
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During Wednesday’s NBC Sports Bay Area telecast of Game 5, Warriors broadcaster Bob Fitzgerald accusedHouston Rockets defender Dillon Brooks of “whacking” the right shooting hand of Golden State star Steph Curry “with intent.”
The future Hall of Famer has been listed on Golden State's injury report throughout the first-round playoff series as available with a “right thumb splint.”
In postgame comments from Houston, Brooks didn't exactly deny the accusation.
“I’m playing the game,” Brooks said in the Toyota Center interview room. “Shoot, if you’re going to come play the game injured, whatever you’ve got, it’s all about the game. If I had an injured ankle, I would attack that ankle every single time. So whatever they’re saying on the broadcast, they can keep saying it.”
Dillon Brooks on whether he's trying to get at Steph's thumb:
"If I had an injured ankle, I would attack that ankle every single time. So, whatever they're saying on the broadcast, they can keep saying it" pic.twitter.com/j3SwixMdDQ— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 1, 2025
Head coach Steve Kerr and veteran forward Draymond Green each indicated that they believe Curry's thumb is being targeted. Kerr, however, was more frustrated with what he views as a loophole in the NBA's current rules.
“The rule in the NBA is once the shot has been released, you’re allowed to hit the guy’s arm,” Kerr said after a blowout Game 5 loss to the Rockets. “So players all over the league are just taking shots at guys’ shooting hands after the release, because they know it’s not going to be a foul. I’m very confident next year the league will fix it, because it’s only a matter of time before somebody breaks a thumb or hand.”
“But these are the rules. I do believe they’re allowed to call a flagrant if the guy winds up and takes a shot. But it’s been happening across the league all year long. It’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of, but we have to take it through the league process to get that changed.”
“Steph is getting hit on every release, but it’s basically within the rules. This is how the league wants it right now. I know we’ve got 30 coaches who think it’s just idiotic that we allow this, so we’ll have to take it through the competition committee this summer.”
"It's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, but we have to take it through the league process to get that changed."
Kerr wants to see rule a change after the Rockets went at Steph's thumb all night pic.twitter.com/U2GmUF3ZmD— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) May 1, 2025
For his part, Curry denied in postgame comments that his thumb is negatively affecting his performance. This week's Game 4 and Game 5 is the first time since May 2018 that Curry has been held below 20 points in consecutive playoff games.
“It’s something you’re dealing with,” Curry said. “As long as I can play … you’ve got a wrap for a reason.”
“There’s a subtle difference in how certain people do it,” Curry said of the closeouts from defenders. “But if you dwell on it and get distracted, then you’re not worried about making shots. I’m trying to do both, make shots and if I get fouled, let them know I got fouled.”
Game 6 is Friday night at Golden State, with the Warriors (up 3-2) having a chance to end the series at home. Should they lose, a decisive Game 7 would be Sunday night in Houston.
The Rockets appear to be targeting Steph's thumb early on 🤔 pic.twitter.com/wT2bvvCOCw— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) May 1, 2025
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Warriors accuse Rockets of targeting Steph Curry’s injured thumb
