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[Saba Sports News] Jimmy Butler and Dillon Brooks delivered an unintentional acting showcase during Sunday’s playoff opener.
In Game 1 between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, the two veterans combined for a wildly exaggerated double flop that quickly drew attention.
Midway through the third quarter, Butler tried to shake free from Brooks by using a screen from teammate Gui Santos. As Brooks ran into the pick, he dramatically crumpled to the floor.
Moments later, Butler received the ball and absorbed light contact from Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr.—then promptly hit the deck himself. With both players sprawled out on the floor simultaneously, the moment looked more like theater than basketball. You can check out the sequence in the clip.
Despite the theatrics, it was Butler who earned the whistle, drawing a foul and heading to the line for two free throws, as the Rockets were already in the penalty. Realistically, though, neither incident appeared to involve enough contact to justify a call.
The over-the-top sequence felt pretty on-brand. Butler, who consistently ranks among the league leaders in free throw attempts, has built a reputation as one of the NBA’s premier foul-drawers. Brooks, meanwhile, has become infamous for his flopping, even earning ejections in the past for overly dramatic reactions.
Butler’s Warriors ultimately came out on top, defeating Brooks’ Rockets 95-85 in Game 1. The flop fest between the two brought back memories of the infamous LeBron James-David West flop from the 2013 playoffs—a moment of playoff dramatics fans won’t soon forget.