Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green did not mince words following his team’s 131-116 loss to the Houston Rockets in Game 5, stating he believes defenders are deliberately going after Stephen Curry’s injured thumb.
Speaking to reporters postgame, Green responded to a question about whether he had noticed opponents making contact with Curry’s shooting hand, saying, “Yeah, I noticed it. I think it’s pretty obvious, but it is what it is.”
The four-time NBA champion stopped short of calling for intervention from the league, emphasizing his unwillingness to complain about officiating or conduct, even when asked directly.
“I see enough people cry about me, and I lose respect for those people when they cry about me,” Green said. “So I would not allow somebody to lose respect for me over that. It’s all good.”
Curry, who shot 4-of-12 from the field for 13 points in the loss, has been nursing a thumb issue during the first-round series against Houston.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr previously acknowledged seeing defenders close out aggressively toward Curry’s shooting hand during jump shots.
Houston capitalized on Golden State’s sluggish defense in transition, opening the game with a 40-24 burst and never looking back.
Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 26 and 25 points respectively, while all five Houston starters finished in double figures.
Curry and Jimmy Butler combined for only 21 points on 6-of-22 shooting, forcing Golden State’s reserves to carry the offensive load with 76 bench points.
Despite the late push by the Warriors’ second unit, the Rockets’ efficiency—55.1% from the field and 43.3% from deep—kept them firmly in control.
The loss trimmed Golden State’s series lead to 3-2, with Game 6 set for Friday at Chase Center.
After the game, Green said the team quickly shifted its focus to adjustments, holding discussions on the bench during the fourth quarter to prepare for the next contest.
“You’ve kind of seen everything,” he said, referencing the team’s playoff experience. “We flipped the page really fast.”
With Houston aiming to become just the 14th team in league history to rally from a 3-1 series deficit, all eyes will be on Curry’s ability to play through contact—and whether officials take a closer look at the targeting Green referenced.
