Stephen Curry has heated moment with Rockets coach Ime Udoka during miserable performance
It’s not every day that someone is chirping at the baby-faced assassin – let alone an opposing coach.
The usually mild-mannered Stephen Curry walked off the floor at halftime during Sunday’s matchup against the Rockets when cameras picked him up jawing back and forth with Houston coach Ime Udoka.
With the Rockets leading, 51-50, Udoka appeared to walk by Curry and said something the sharpshooter didn’t like as he shook his head in disapproval before both eventually headed to their separate locker rooms.
It came after a heated final few minutes of the first half, with Draymond Green receiving a technical for hitting Rockets center Alperen Sengun in the head during a contested inbounds play.
Curry could not make Udoka pay as the Rockets defeated the Warriors, 106-96, in a crucial game in the super-tight Western Conference.
Curry, in particular, had a terrible game as he was defended by second-year pro and defensive-maestro Amen Thompson.
Curry ended the game with just three points on 1-10 shooting (1-8 from 3-point range) and he scored zero points in the second half after the interaction.
When asked about the skirmish, Curry brushed off the question jokingly.
“He made a reservation at International Smoke and canceled it. I was upset with him,” Curry said as he and Green began laughing.
Udoka was also asked about the comments after the game.
“I was talking to my team about the physicality. This is the type of game we like. This is who we are. He said something. I said something. A little friendly banter,” Udoka said.
Udoka is no stranger to talking trash while coaching, previously getting ejected in a spicy moment with LeBron James in December 2023.
This drama comes as Western Conference contenders are battling for their playoff positioning behind the top-seeded Thunder.
Udoka’s Rockets are close to securing the No. 2 seed in the west with their 52-27 record.
The Warriors (46-32) are one of five teams in the conference with 32 losses entering the final week.
Golden State can finish anywhere from the No. 3 seed to the No. 8 seed — the difference between homecourt advantage in the first round and starting a play-in game on the road.
And the Rockets and Warriors could easily meet in the playoffs if the seedings shake out in such a manner.
The Warriors have been one of the NBA’s best teams since the trade deadline after acquiring Jimmy Butler.
About The Author
