This is commonly known as the “high-five rule” and is explained in the NBA’s video rulebook, with an example showing a defender slapping the shooting hand of a player during his follow-through: “Because the contact was incidental, and it occurred after the release of the shot, no foul would be assessed on this play.”

Dillon Brooks has tried to push the dirty player narrative onto the Warriors all through this playoff series. But after winning Game 5 to force the series to go back to San Francisco, the Rockets enforcer tacitly admitted to intentionally targeting Steph Curry's injured thumb.

After Curry’s jump shots, Rockets defenders made an effort to swipe at his compromised digit while he snapped his wrist. The Warriors’ television broadcast picked up the trend during Game 5, which led to accusations that the Rockets were attempting to injure Curry.