Warriors’ Green argues with refs, earns 2nd ejection in 2 weeks
SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected late in the second quarter Saturday night after vehemently arguing for a three-second violation against the Utah Jazz.
It was Green’s second ejection in the last eight games. The Warriors (19-17) won 123-114 on Saturday night.
The sequence occurred while Green was defending Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski during a baseline practice. Filipowski recovered his dribble under the basket and Green trapped him and looked for an outlet.
Toward the end of his trap, Green began shouting, “Three! Three ! towards official Simone Jelks, requesting a three-second violation. Moments later, as Lauri Markkanen finished Utah’s possession with a dunk, Green shouted in displeasure again, earning a first technical.
After the first whistle, Green said a few words to official Kevin Cutler, who hit him with a quick second technical, leading to an automatic ejection.
“I don’t know what he said to the ref,” Stephen Curry said. “But I think the consensus in the dressing room was that there wasn’t enough reason to be sent off.”
It was the 22nd regular-season ejection of Green’s career and his ninth technical of the season. He will receive a one-game suspension if he reaches 16 technical fouls.
“We need Draymond,” coach Steve Kerr said. “I want him there. We need him.”
Saturday continued a tumultuous streak for Green. He was ejected on December 20 at home against the Suns. In the next game, Green argued with Kerr on the sideline and removed himself from the game in the third quarter.
The Warriors trailed 58-48 at the time of Green’s ejection Saturday. They were plus-19 for the remainder of the game, continuing a recent trend of better play when Green was off the field. They rallied to wins against Phoenix and Orlando after his early departure.
“That’s not the formula,” Jimmy Butler said. “No, no, no, no, no. We need ’23’ there.”
The Warriors have won six of their last eight games, improving to 19-17 and generating their best momentum in a few months. They face the Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday night.
“You have to remember where we were a week and a half or two weeks ago,” Curry said. “And what’s next for us in terms of an opportunity to string some wins together. I think our morale is pretty good, and we’re playing hard and competing.”
