On Sunday, Draymond Green didn’t get the start. he didn’t take long to leave his mark on the game. The Golden State Warriors forward missed Game 3 due to an NBA ban, but he played in Game 4 against the Sacramento Kings off the bench for Golden State. His appearance lasted less than a minute until he received a technical foul.
With 6:36 left in the first quarter and the Kings ahead 15-14, Green joined the contest. With 5:43 remaining in the quarter, he committed a personal foul for leaping to block a drive by Keegan Murray in the paint. He quickly disputed the call, claiming that Murray had already left the court when Green unintentionally struck the Kings forward in the face and knocked him to the floor.
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Keegan Murray gets hit in the face by Draymond Green; De'Aaron Fox and Draymond both get a tech after pic.twitter.com/9GyfBsy5r5
— hoops bot (@hoops_bot) April 23, 2023After the final buzzer, De’Aaron Fox of the Kings and Green began exchanging insults. Pat Fraher, an official, had had enough as the conversation continued. Both players received technical foul warnings from him.
— sports (@ilikesportsvids) April 23, 2023
The series is tense, and things got worse in Game 2 when Green tackled Kings forward Domantas Sabonis. In a struggle for a rebound, Sabonis was thrown to the ground and grabbed Green’s ankle. Green released Sabonis’ hold on him, then landed with his right foot on the man’s chest.
NBA Playoffs: Draymond Green
Sabonis is down after Draymond stepped on him. pic.twitter.com/6MwsNLT2Pj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 18, 2023Green was removed from the game after receiving a flagrant two foul. He lingered on the sidelines to jeer Kings supporters before leaving the field, and the NBA later banned him for Game 3.
“Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts” was mentioned by NBA Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars in his decision to suspend the player. Later, he stressed that Green’s reputation as a “repeat offender” and history of “excessive and over-the-top actions” were factors in the decision to suspend him for a playoff game.
Despite Green’s absence, the Warriors won Game 3 and reduced their series deficit to 2-1. Jordan Poole will remain in the starting lineup for Game 4 under head coach Steve Kerr, who also elected to insert Green off the bench. Green had not come off the bench in a playoff game since 2014, according to ESPN.
Standing ovations from the Warriors’ home fans greeted him when he entered the game. Later, after the Warriors tied the series at 2-2, he went back to causing trouble on the floor.
