Don’t heat up the Curry because it can cost you if you do.
Well, if your name is Trevor Ariza, that is. Literally.
During a not-so-competitive game between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets on Wednesday in which the Warriors were up by as many as 30 points, things got rather tense between Stephen Curry and Ariza in the third quarter.
Here’s how it went down: Golden State had already beaten Houston three times this season and were well on its way for an easy sweep of the season by the second half, maintaining a 20-point lead built in the first half. Trying to do something – anything really – to turn things around, Patrick Beverley got up a bit too close to Curry while being extra physical midway through the third. Curry, who isn’t exactly known for getting into it with opposing players, didn’t appreciate all the contact and gave Beverley a shove. The referee saw that and gave Curry a technical foul. On the following play, Curry set a moving screen against Ariza and was called for an offensive foul. Then, this happened:
Essentially, Curry was already ticked at the way Beverley was playing him earlier. Getting shouldered by Ariza was enough of a trigger for the well-mannered guard to go after the small forward, who also isn’t really known for getting into it with opposing players but has done a sketchy thing or two in the past.
Curry explained why the play ticked him off, from Tim Kawakami of Mercury News:
But let’s go back to the flash point moment: Steph, what were you planning to do to Ariza there?
“Throw a hay-maker and knock him out–get kicked out of the league,” Curry said with that wry smile, but he also had a serious look in his eye. He wasn’t going to get into a brawl, but Curry also wasn’t going to let Ariza pull that without some emotional reaction.
“I thought it was a cheap shot,” Curry said. “I don’t know if he meant to do it or not, but that’s how I felt in the moment. And wanted to tell him.”
Ultimately, Ariza was assessed a technical foul on the play. Curry probably should have been given one as well for going after Ariza, but he was held back by Draymond Green from getting too close, which was enough to save him from getting ejected from the game.
After the contest, Ariza shared his displeasure for what went down:
2500 for what??
— trevorariza (@TrevorAriza) January 22, 2015
@tyler_schwab yea man lmao. I don’t know y tho — trevorariza (@TrevorAriza) January 22, 2015
Players get fined $2,000 for the first five technical fouls they receive on the season, so that’s what Ariza was likely referring to (not quite sure where the extra $500 comes from). Clearly, he felt he did nothing wrong based on the reaction, making it appear as though the contact he made with Curry was coincidental. Obviously, that’s up for debate and Curry undoubtedly felt otherwise.
The good news for both players is that they won’t see each other again, at least in the regular season.
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Jim Park is a blogger and editor of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.