“He’s the best defender I’ve ever seen in my life. He rises to the occasion,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “On top of being a great defender, he’s an incredible competitor. We’ve seen it. I’ve seen it for 11 years. Game on the line, Draymond making a stop. It’s like having Steph Curry take the shot.”

The fireworks on the court were typified by a viral interaction between Warriors star Jimmy Butler and the Rockets' Dillon Brooks, but the drama continued post-game as Golden State forward Draymond Green took exception with comments that former Rockets guard Eddie Johnson made on X.

Draymond Green had his pocket picked by Tari Eason, and in the ensuing scramble for the ball, Green, shall we say, gave Eason just a little bit more of the business than he needed to. It wasn't much,