Dillon Brooks has addressed allegations that he deliberately swiped at Stephen Curry’s injured left hand during Game 5 of the first-round playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.
The accusation surfaced after a Warriors broadcast suggested Brooks was intentionally going after Curry’s thumb, which had been taped during the game.
When asked directly about the claim, Brooks dismissed it without hesitation, stating, “No. I’ve been playing the game. Shoot. If you’re going to come play the game injured or whatever you got, it’s all about the game.”
He added, “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.”
The Rockets forward contributed 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting in Houston’s 131-116 victory Wednesday night, which extended the series to Game 6.
Brooks’ aggressive defensive style and physical presence have been consistent talking points throughout his career, and this incident adds to that narrative in the postseason spotlight.
Golden State head coach Steve Kerr was also asked about the incident postgame and responded diplomatically, saying similar plays are “allowed by the rules” and “happen around the league.”
Curry finished with just 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting as the Warriors struggled to find rhythm offensively against a tenacious Houston defense.
The Rockets jumped out to a 27-point halftime lead and never allowed the deficit to shrink below double digits for the remainder of the night.
Fred VanVleet led Houston with 26 points, while Amen Thompson added 25 along with standout defense that Brooks praised as “personal.”
“You have to take the matchup personal,” Brooks said of Thompson, who recorded eight combined steals and blocks.
The veteran also described how he’s embraced a leadership role for Houston’s young core, which includes Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, and Jabari Smith Jr.
Brooks credited their progress to a strong focus on details and discipline, saying, “Some nights might not be your night, but somehow you got to find a way to impact the game.”
Tensions boiled over late in the fourth quarter when Pat Spencer was ejected for headbutting Sengun after shoving Brooks, resulting in three technical fouls.
Houston quickly regained control, finishing the game on a 7-2 run and holding the Warriors to 41.7% shooting overall.
With the win, the Rockets cut Golden State’s series lead to 3-2 and will head to Chase Center aiming to force a Game 7.
Tipoff for Game 6 is scheduled for Friday night in San Francisco.
