SAN FRANCISCO (AP) \u2014 Players on the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets got into a shoving altercation midway through the second quarter in Monday night\u2019s Game 4 of their first-round playoff series, leading to three technical fouls before tempers flared again shortly before halftime.<\/p>\n
With the game tied at 36, Golden State star Stephen Curry dribbled down the sideline when teammate Draymond Green put a hard screen on Houston\u2019s Amen Thompson. Dillon Brooks appeared to become angry about the push and went at Curry and Green. <\/p>\n
Curry received a technical for \u201ctaunting\u201d Brooks, who also received a technical along with Green. <\/p>\n
Warriors rookie Quinten Post and Houston\u2019s Jabari Smith Jr. flailed their arms at each other but avoided technicals upon replay review by the officials.<\/p>\n
Then with 2:44 left in the quarter, Green received a Flagrant 1 foul for pushing Tari Eason\u2019s face to the ground and Eason also received a technical. Green was dribbling when Eason went for a steal and the ball got loose and both players hit the floor trying to corral it. Green\u2019s left leg was on the Rockets forward\u2019s neck. <\/p>\n
The Warriors lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. <\/p>\n
There was already bad blood between the teams. Jimmy Butler returned after missing Game 3<\/a> because of a pelvic contusion suffered in Game 2 on Wednesday on a hard foul by Thompson.<\/p>\n Butler tried to secure a rebound when Thompson undercut him<\/a> and sent the Warriors star\u2019s feet high into the air so that he came down straight onto his tailbone. Both players thudded to the floor and Butler grimaced in pain, grabbing at his backside. He stayed in briefly to shoot two free throws before going to the locker room. <\/p>\n On Friday, Brooks defended Thompson and called Green a \u201cdirty\u201d player.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDillon said that? Interesting,\u201d Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.<\/p>\n