It was a knock-down, drag-out affair on Saturday as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 104-93 at Chase Center to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference first round NBA playoff series.
There were 38 combined fouls between the two teams in Game 3, including one technical foul each for the Warriors’ Draymond Green and the Rockets’ Amen Thompson, who have both had chippy plays in the series so far.
While plenty of decisions from the officials in Game 3 ended up subject to debate, the discourse began immediately in the first quarter due to a no-call for Rockets guard Dillon Brooks after his run-in with Warriors star Stephen Curry on a three-point attempt.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) controls the ball as Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) defends at Toyota Center.
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Despite his hallowed status among NBA greats and his newly-achieved position as the 10th-leading scorer in NBA playoff history, Curry did not get the benefit of the whistle as Brooks made contact with him.
While the account that called it a “clothesline” may have exaggerated a touch, the contact from Brooks appeared to meet the criteria for a shooting foul — and fans agreed loudly.
“How didn’t they call that?” a critic responded to a Warriors fan on X. “I want you guys to lose but Jesus that’s bad.”
“This is insane,” said another post directed at the officials. “Steph really one of the last superstars that doesn’t flop and foul bait and they treating him like this. CRAZY.”
“@OfficialNBARefs is this a foul?” one fan asked directly on X.
“No calls on Steph, huh? @NBA @OfficialNBARefs,” said one reply.
The no-call early in the contest did not cost Golden State the game, but it did set the tone for the physical game to come. The officials operated under extra scrutiny after the controversy in Game 2 surrounding Green and Thompson on a play that led to Jimmy Butler‘s injury.
Butler remained out for Game 3, but the Warriors pulled through behind 36 points from Curry. Butler’s status remains uncertain for Game 4 in San Francisco on Monday night at 10 p.m. ET.
