Tonight, as the Golden State Warriors faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the matchup appeared to be a marquee game between two Western Conference contenders. Still, no one expected to see what came next. On a routine closeout on a shooter, Warriors star Stephen Curry seemed to foul Thunder guard Isaiah Joe, a referee whistle blowing as the shot went up. However, the officials headed to the monitor, eventually delivering a verdict marking a first for the 17-year veteran.

After a slight pause, Curry was called for a flagrant one foul, the first of his career. As Anthony Slater reported, “That was the first flagrant foul of Steph Curry’s 17-year career — 1,193 career games prior to tonight and zero flagrants.” The call was made because Curry stepped into Isaiah Joe’s space on the contested three, causing his feet to obstruct Joe’s landing space.

This kind of foul has become a point of emphasis in the NBA, aimed at protecting shooters like Curry, and the league has taken steps, even this offseason, to curb excessive physicality against perimeter players.

For perspective, Curry has gone through nearly two decades of basketball without once crossing the line, despite running through hard screens, chasing shooters, and taking more contact than most guards his size have ever taken. Yet, until tonight, not one flagrant. Amongst active players, the only player who comes even close is Mike Conley, who received his only flagrant foul during the 2022 playoffs, marking the end of a 15-year streak.

The Warriors are currently struggling with inconsistency, holding a disappointing 6-5 record as the team deals with injuries, including Curry’s illness, which has caused him to miss the last three games.

This is the second time this season that the Warriors have been assessed a flagrant foul, with the first one being given to Draymond Green during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 27. During the matchup, Green turned the ball over and subsequently fouled Grizzlies player Santi Aldama. Aldama then missed both free throws, and Green mocked him by skipping around the court.

Green later commented on the situation, saying, “And I just disagree with fronting like that, because even if you get the call he did … it’s almost like you sold your soul for two free throws. You just laying out on the floor… Just to get up and walk to the bench and walk to the free throw line.”

OKC Thunder’s Rise Tests Golden State Warriors’ Resolve on the Road

For the Golden State Warriors, tonight’s game was supposed to be about rediscovering rhythm against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. But the Dubs once again seemed to unravel, as the Thunder exposed every soft spot in the Warriors’ armor. OKC, up 63-44 at halftime, shot a blistering 8/15 from deep in the first half, and by the end of the third quarter, the lead swelled to 35 behind 44 third-quarter points from OKC. A blowout, just four days after one in Denver, painted the picture for the Warriors: they need to find an identity.

Stephen Curry, who returned from his illness, still looked hobbled, making only four of 13 his beyond-the-arc shots, sitting out the final 90 seconds of the third. Energy came in spurts for the team in general, being led by Jonathan Kuminga and Jimmy Butler, but nothing seemed to sustain, an issue that head coach Steve Kerr has lamented all season.

Meanwhile, the defending champs look every bit like the team that dominated the regular season last year. OKC, missing Jalen Williams and key reserves, wasn’t deterred, with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren dictating the pace. Warriors center Al Horford had warned before the trip, “It’s a big challenge for our group and the way to address it,” and now, it feels defining. Now, with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs waiting tomorrow, it’s about proving they still belong in the conversation.