When Steph Curry steps onto the hardwood, you expect fireworks - and when Dillon Brooks is on the other side, you can usually count on some drama too. Thursday night’s matchup between the Warriors and Suns delivered both in full.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the game hanging in the balance, Curry found himself in a familiar spot: corner three territory, looking to give Golden State a lift. He managed to shake free just enough to get the ball and rise up for a shot - but Dillon Brooks was right there, closing hard. And that’s when things got messy.
Dillon Brooks attacks Steph 💀 pic.twitter.com/TnkZGFtHGA
— No Context NBA (@NoContext_NBA_) December 19, 2025
As Curry released the three, Brooks swiped at his hand in a way that didn’t exactly scream “clean contest.” Then, as both players came back down, Brooks extended his right arm and delivered a shot to Curry’s midsection - a forceful hit that left the Warriors star doubled over in pain. The officials took a closer look and ultimately upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 1, giving Curry two free throws and a moment to catch his breath.
The timing of the incident couldn’t have been more crucial. On the very next possession, Jimmy Butler - who had been relatively quiet up to that point - drilled a clutch three over Brooks to knot the game at 96-96. The crowd was buzzing, momentum seemed to be swinging, and for a moment, it felt like Golden State might steal one late.
But in a game that had its fair share of physicality and emotion, the Suns managed to hold on, edging the Warriors by a single point, 99-98.
After the game, Brooks was asked about the hit on Curry - and while he didn’t exactly offer a heartfelt apology, he did acknowledge that things may have gotten out of hand. “I thought [Curry] was going to try and run to get the rebound, so I tried to stop him,” Brooks said.
“Maybe I’ve been lifting too much. Maybe I got to do what the other guys are doing and lift on game day.
I don’t know, I can’t explain it.”
It was a strange mix of deflection and self-deprecation, but what was clear is that Brooks wasn’t losing much sleep over the play itself - only the possibility that it might’ve cost his team the game. That’s been a consistent theme throughout his career. Whether it was Memphis, Houston, or now Phoenix, Brooks has built a reputation as a defensive pest who walks the line - and sometimes steps over it.
Up 5, with 38 seconds remaining in regulation, Dillon Brooks takes a swing at Steph Curry and hits him in the stomach after he contested 3 by Curry (with replays)
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) December 19, 2025
Upon review, the foul was upgraded to a flagrant-1, Curry makes both free throws and Jimmy Butler with the clutch… pic.twitter.com/QiExo5EkAt
For Curry, it was another night of battling through tight coverage, hard contact, and the kind of physical attention that comes with being one of the league’s most dangerous offensive weapons. For Brooks, it was another chapter in a long-running saga of on-court antics that continue to draw scrutiny - and sometimes, whistles.
One thing’s for sure: when these two share the floor, it’s must-watch basketball. Not just for the shot-making, but for the edge, the emotion, and the tension that comes with it.