Alright, so here we are again. Stephen Curry, looking like he’s about to break every scoring record in sight, and Dillon Brooks, well, still doing Dillon Brooks things. But this time, the stakes are higher—way higher. In Game 5 against the Rockets, Curry takes a three, flicks that wrist of his, and guess who’s there to give it a little love tap? Yup, Dillon Brooks. And no, he’s not there to high-five him, he’s swiping at that already-injured right thumb like he’s trying to swat a fly.

Let’s talk about Stephen Curry’s reaction for a second. He’s not one to exaggerate pain—but that subtle hand shake? That wasn’t just a casual “I’m good” gesture. You could feel the frustration. Steph’s been managing a thumb issue for weeks now, and here comes Brooks—never one to dial it down—going straight for the bullseye. If you’re a Warriors fan, that’s DEFCON 1.

Even the Warriors broadcasters had to call it out live, saying, “Steph launches… and then it’s let me whack your right hand.” That’s not good. And Curry’s 3-of-9 shooting in the first half didn’t just happen by accident—Amen Thompson’s verticality plus Brooks’ physicality was a recipe for rhythm murder. Every time Curry rose up for a jumper, Brooks was contesting aggressively—sometimes too aggressively—and one of those contests ended with a swipe right on that taped-up thumb.

Stephen Curry was visibly annoyed. Not flopping, not begging for a whistle—just giving that classic “this again?” shake of the hand, like someone just reopened an old scar. And for a guy who lives off finesse, that’s a problem.

This Ain’t New: Dillon Brooks Been on This Energy Before

Let’s not act brand new—Dillon Brooks has been pulling this stunt since Memphis. The man thrives on poking stars, baiting legends, and walking the fine line between physical defense and “yo, what was that?” Remember how he tried to break LeBron’s soul with postgame quotes and mid-game elbows? This series? Just another episode in the Brooks Villain Arc.

In Game 3, Brooks went hunting. Multiple times he swiped at Steph’s shooting hand after jumpers—especially that taped-up right thumb. One contest saw him dive in so close, Steph nearly tweaked his landing. Refs let it slide, but fans? They saw it plain as day. You don’t need a slow-motion replay to catch the intent.

Then Game 4 hit. Brooks again with the physical defense—another hard bump, a shove here, a tangle there. Steph gave him the “that’s two” fingers after one foul, and boom—technical foul party. Brooks, Curry, Draymond—everybody got one. If the goal was to rattle the Warriors’ core? Mission semi-accomplished.

And just when the Warriors thought they could get a clean Game 5? Nah. Brooks stayed on brand. That swipe after Steph’s three-point attempt wasn’t accidental. It was targeted. And when you’ve already got a thumb issue, that’s more than just playoff intensity—it’s a liability.

And let’s not forget—Jimmy Butler’s been playing through a similar injury. He talked about how tough it is just to grip the ball, let alone shoot with confidence. If Steph’s dealing with ligament strain or inflammation, even small contact like Brooks’ swipe can compound the problem over time.

So yeah, Steph’s still out there. Still launching. Still competing. But next time he flicks that wrist, and Brooks is lurking, you better believe every Dubs fan is watching that follow-through like it’s a lottery ticket.