Rockets force a Game 6 in their playoff series with the Warriors after beating them 131-116 in Houston. Stopping Stephen Curry was the key factor in how the Rockets pulled off this victory. But it also became a contentious issue when the Warriors’ broadcasters accused Dillon Brooks of targeting Stephen Curry’s thumb. Steve Kerr also took note of this alleged strategy and was visibly frustrated with it.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s play-by-play announcer Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike accused Brooks of intentionally targeting Curry’s injured thumb on his right hand. In the post-game press conference, Kerr indirectly addressed the Dillon Brooks accusation and called for a rule change in the NBA.
“The rule in the NBA is, once the shot has been released, you’re allowed to hit the guy’s arm. So what’s happened in the league this year is, players are always gonna outsmart the rules, they know what they are doing. So players all over the league are just taking shots at guys’ shooting hands after release because they know it’s not going to be a foul. I’m very confident that next year the league will fix it because it’s only a matter of time before somebody breaks a thumb or breaks a hand. But these are the rules”, said Kerr.
“I do believe they are allowed to call a flagrant if they want, if the guy winds up and takes a shot. But it’s been happening across the league all year long, and it’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, but we have to take it through the league process to get that changed. And that would probably happen this summer, I guess”, he further added.
Ime Udoka’s Two-Word Reaction To Dillon Brooks’ Aggressive Defense on Steph Curry
Ime Udoka took the silent route while addressing the accusations made by the broadcasters. When asked how he would react to the Warriors broadcasters’ accusation, Udoka simply responded with two words, “I wouldn’t.”
Stephen Curry has averaged 23.4 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 5 games against the Rockets so far in this series. The Warriors’ star Stephen Curry has struggled with a thumb injury since April 11, when they played their second-to-last game of the regular season. Shocking images surfaced online before Game 5 of the series that showed the condition of Curry’s thumb.
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) April 30, 2025
Whether or not these viral photos and the injury itself influenced the Rockets’ strategy remains unknown. Therefore, it is a smart response by Udoka to essentially remain silent and not give away too much.
The Warriors vs. Rockets series has been a nail-biter from the outset in terms of the physicality in the series. Several broadcasters and analysts have categorized this series as extremely physical, reminding them of the 80s-90s style of basketball. Diving into the history between these teams, any NBA fan can conclude that there is no love lost between the franchises. Ever since James Harden’s era, a Rockets vs. Warriors series has always been packed with action and intense emotions.
Will this alleged strategy be enough to stop Stephen Curry? Are the Rockets playing dirty by targeting Curry’s thumb? Can the Rockets fight back and win back-to-back games to seal this series? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
