All it took was one offensive foul and a small taunt for all hell to break loose in Game 4 between the Warriors and the Rockets. The series has been intense with a slew of physical altercations that added up to a total of 10 technical fouls to account for it. In Game 4 alone, both teams logged a total of four technicals and a flagrant foul, and had the last one been technical instead of flagrant, Warriors’ Draymond Green would have seen an ejection. Green may have jokingly called himself “a habitual line-stepper” by the end of it, but no kidding, tonight, it went a step further as Stephen Curry and Dillon Brooks got a little chippy.

It’s going to be a timely reminder at this point about what Brooks preached after Game 2, a game that called six technical fouls. Rockets won that game, and Brooks himself pressed for his team to keep a mental note not to react. “Keep playing physical, let them do the nonsense, the antics, and whatnot. We play our brand of basketball, and that will bring it out.” But quite contrary to this, come Game 4, it all started midway through the second quarter with the game tied, and this is how it all went down.

• The possession was innocent. The Rockets were to get the ball, but Draymond Green set an illegal screen that sent Amen Thompson to the floor.
• Curry, though, in his continuation dribble clashed with Brooks, who stood firmly as Curry hit the ground.
• Curry was well laid up on the ground when he looked up and smiled as he put up two fingers in Brooks’ face as a means of taunting either the fact that the Warriors had a 2-1 foothold or that the Rockets defender had picked up just his second foul in the last couple of minutes. Thompson was on the floor this entire time. 
• Green helped Curry up. But during dead ball, Brooks tried punching the ball out of Steph’s hands. Green, as well as security, intervened again to shield Curry from Brooks. After a long look at the incident, the referees had several punishments to hand out.

Firstly, Curry was hit with a technical foul for his taunt, which began the entire scuffle. Another one for Brooks for reacting to the taunt, and a third one for Green since officials deemed his act of moving Brooks out of the way aggressive. Curry briefly went to the locker room after the incident, but returned back to the court in no time.
Latest update we have on this: During the press conference after the Warriors’ 109-106 win, “They were trying to muddy the game up, but it’s fine,” Green said. “We kept it pushing.” And regarding Curry’s rare technical, Green had this to add, “All he said was, ‘That’s two.’ There’s been way more taunting than that in this series. But, hey, it is what it is. I like it.” Here, take a look.

As for Rockets center Alperen Sengun, who recorded a game-high 31 points, reiterated the same mantra Brooks did from Game 2. “It’s a physical game. That happens every game right now. We get into each other. We just have to be disciplined. They always do that. So, we just have to be disciplined and not let them get into our mind.”

The series between the Rockets and Warriors has had such moments. It’s intense, and every player is wearing their pride on their sleeves. And when a series is as evenly matched, it’s almost more likely to see such a scenario. Game 4 has been a cutthroat contest like all the other games.

A game to decide the series

Game 4 holds all the cards for how this Warriors-Rockets first-round series could progress ahead. The scoreline at halftime is indicative of the tense atmosphere. The Rockets hold a slight edge, leading by seven going into the half. For the Warriors, a hobbled Jimmy Butler has returned early for this game.

That’s how vital it is to the series.

A home win for the Warriors gives them two chances to close out this series before avoiding a Game 7. A closeout game at home holds major implications in the postseason. On the other hand, this is a must-win for the Rockets after losing Game 1. Tying the series shifts the advantage to them as they look to battle from behind.

Despite his scuffle, Dillon Brooks is showing out for Houston with 11 points and five rebounds at the half. Fred VanVleet, who has struggled all series, has also notched up 12 points to lead the Rockets in the first half. On the other hand, Brandin Podziemski and Stephen Curry have combined for 23 of the Warriors’ 50 points.

For Houston, it’s imperative for them to build on their marginal lead and seal this game as soon as possible. Because at the Chase Center, the crowd can be a great influence in inspiring the Warriors. Moreover, with Butler back, going into the clutch could be a recipe for disaster. It’s shaping up to be another thrilling matchup between these two Western Conference sides.

But will Dillon Brooks have to pay the price for trying to instigate Stephen Curry as the Rockets did in Game 3? And who takes this one home? Let us know your views in the comments below.