The Houston Rockets stood firmly behind rookie guard Amen Thompson on Friday, dismissing any accusations of dirty play after Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler III suffered a pelvis injury in Game 2 of their playoff series.
Dillon Brooks made headlines by shifting the spotlight toward a familiar target.
“No, I think the dirty player is Draymond [Green],” Brooks said. “Amen’s not a dirty player. He has nothing to do with being a dirty player.”
How It Happened
Jimmy Butler fell awkwardly following a collision involving Thompson and Draymond Green during a scramble for a rebound. An MRI later revealed Butler suffered a deep gluteal muscle contusion. He is officially questionable for Game 3 on Saturday at Chase Center, with the series tied 1-1.
Both Rockets coach Ime Udoka and Warriors coach Steve Kerr agreed there was no malicious intent from Thompson.
“We didn’t think there was anything wrong with the play,” Kerr said.
“You don’t fall into somebody face-first on purpose,” Udoka added.
When informed about Brooks’ comments labeling Green as dirty, Kerr reacted with a smirk, saying, “Dillon said that? Interesting.”
Rockets Push Back Against Criticism
The Rockets, led by Udoka, stressed the difference between physical playoff basketball and dirty tactics.
“There’s a difference between aggressive, physical play and being dirty,” Udoka said. “You could question some of their things as well.”
Despite the tension, Udoka emphasized that Houston’s focus remains locked on Game 3.
Meanwhile, irony played its part Friday when Draymond Green received the NBA Hustle Award, highlighting his reputation for gritty play — if not always clean.
What’s Next
The Rockets and Warriors head to San Francisco for a pivotal Game 3 on Saturday night. Emotions will be running high as the teams battle for control of a fiercely competitive series.
