The Golden State Warriors edged out the Phoenix Suns in a 119-116 nail-biter on Saturday night, but the final score wasn’t the only thing people were talking about afterward. The game had playoff-level intensity-and a fair share of controversy to match.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the game hanging in the balance, Warriors star Stephen Curry rose up for a three. Suns forward Dillon Brooks contested the shot, but instead of a clean closeout, Brooks appeared to take a swipe at Curry’s midsection as he came down. It wasn’t subtle, and it certainly didn’t sit well with Golden State head coach Steve Kerr.
“We just saw a guy on their team punch Steph in the stomach, premeditated… no ejection for that,” Kerr said postgame, clearly frustrated. “Two nights later, refs got upset with some words for Draymond. I totally disagree.”
The reference to Draymond Green was no accident. Green had been ejected earlier in the game after a heated exchange with Suns guard Collin Gillespie, adding fuel to what was already a fiery matchup. Kerr didn’t hold back in criticizing the officiating, questioning the consistency in how physicality is being policed across the league.
“Apparently you are now allowed to premeditate a punch of any shooter who’s left defenseless,” Kerr added. “You can take a swing at him and know you’re just going to get a Flagrant 1.
So, I don’t know, maybe we’ll do that. But probably not.”
This isn’t the first time Dillon Brooks has found himself in the middle of a controversy involving player safety. Back in the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals, Brooks collided with then-Warrior Gary Payton II as he attempted a dunk. Payton took a nasty fall, suffering a fractured left elbow, and Brooks was suspended by the league for the play.
“This is a guy who broke Gary’s elbow in the playoffs, clotheslining him with one of the dirtiest plays I’ve ever seen,” Kerr said, pointing to a pattern of behavior that’s hard to ignore.
To be fair, Brooks isn’t just a provocateur-he’s been a critical piece of the Suns’ resurgence this season, averaging 21.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. He brings energy, toughness, and scoring punch to a team that’s trying to find its identity in a stacked Western Conference. But his reputation as an agitator continues to follow him, and moments like Saturday night only reinforce the narrative.
As for the Warriors, they walk away with a hard-fought win and a few bruises-both literal and figurative. The tension between these two teams is real, and if this game was any indication, we might be in for something special if they cross paths again when the stakes are even higher.
For now, Golden State will take the victory, but the conversation around how physical play is being officiated-especially when it involves star players-won’t be going away anytime soon.