The Golden State Warriors took a commanding 3-1 lead over the Houston Rockets with Monday’s Game 4 victory at Chase Center. Welcoming Jimmy Butler back to the lineup after his absence in Game 3, the Warriors enjoyed an all-around performance from the six-time All-Star.
Pouring in 27 points, five rebounds and six assists, Butler also made three clutch free throws with 59 seconds remaining after being fouled by Rockets forward Dillon Brooks. The free throws put the Warriors up 107-104 and they never surrendered the lead again.
This game-deciding foul also gave Butler and the Warriors the last laugh in what was a game-long battle with Brooks.
Golden State has a history with Brooks, having faced him in the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals when he was a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. The one-time All-Defensive forward injured Gary Payton II in that series, leading to some back-and-forth media discourse between Steve Kerr and former Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins.
While Butler was not a member of the Warriors in 2022, he made it clear on Monday night how he feels about Brooks.
“I don’t like Dillon Brooks,” Butler said, via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.
Asked that it looked like he was having fun going back and forth with Dillon Brooks, Jimmy Butler made it clear there was no fun. “I don’t like Dillon Brooks.”
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) April 29, 2025
Brooks landed in Houston as part of a sign-and-trade deal with Memphis in 2023. The 6-foot-6 forward helped the Rockets earn the second seed in the Western Conference this season, but they are now on the brink of being eliminated by the No. 7 seed Warriors.
In 75 games this season, Brooks averaged 14.0 points and 3.7 rebounds.
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