Tensions erupted again between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets in a heated Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. Emotions were running high, and physical plays escalating late in the game ultimately saw Warriors guard Pat Spencer ejected.
With just over four minutes left in the fourth quarter, things took a volatile turn. Spencer and Rockets forward Dillon Brooks were locked in a physical battle for a rebound when Spencer aggressively shoved Brooks to the floor.
As Rockets center Alperen Sengun rushed in to confront Spencer, the altercation intensified. Spencer did not try to cool his teammate; rather, he headbutted Sengun.
Something tells me Pat Spencer is not easily messed with pic.twitter.com/x7R6Y617yA
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) May 1, 2025
Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis stepped in to defend his teammate by pushing Sengun. It prompted players from both teams to storm in and separate the brewing conflict. Officials quickly gave technical fouls to Sengun and Jackson-Davis while Spencer was promptly ejected from the game.
Spencer contributed 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal in just 14 minutes before his ejection. Jackson-Davis added four points and four rebounds in 12 minutes. Sengun nearly posted a triple-double, finishing with 15 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in the victory.
Draymond Green Reacts To Pat Spencer’s Headbutts
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Following the emotionally charged clash, Warriors veteran Draymond Green offered his take on Pat Spencer’s headbutt. Rather than condemning the heated exchange, Green expressed admiration for how his younger teammates handled the moment.
“Beautiful, beautiful. You don’t back down from anybody, and they didn’t. So, I like it,” Green said in the press conference.
Despite the chaos, the Rockets maintained their composure on the scoreboard. They rolled to a convincing 131-116 win on Wednesday. The series is now set to shift back to the Bay Area for Game 6 on Friday. The winner of the series will confront the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals.
