The Golden State Warriors knew what time it was. It was Game 6 of an elimination game for the Houston Rockets. Win or go home time.
Jimmy Butler was mindful of this, and whenever he had the opportunity, he leaned into bending the game to his will at every moment. Drives to the rim and initiating contact, thus forcing the referee to blow the whistle? Check. Kicking his legs out unnecessarily on jumpers to draw foul calls? Check. Antagonizing an antagonist like Dillon Brooks to draw silly fouls? Check.
Butler and the Warriors were in their dark arts bag, and even with the Rockets holding a single-digit lead all the way to the start of the fourth quarter, it felt ominous that Golden State would catch up to Houston and close out the series at home.