SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected during the second quarter of the game against the Utah Jazz on Jan. 3 at Chase Center.
After back-to-back technical fouls, Green was sent to the showers early with 2:25 left in the second quarter.
After defending Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski in the paint, Green said something to the official and clapped his hands.
Concerned with the no-call (looking for an offensive three-seconds in the paint?) Green gave up a Lauri Markkanen dunk as he ran freely into the lane after a Filipowski pass.
Green continued to have an animated discussion with the official and received his first technical foul. He continued to argue his case and received a second technical foul from a different official.
Green ended the game with eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a block in 12 minutes. The Warriors trailed at the half, 65-58.
‘I don’t know what he said,’ Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after his team’s 123-114 win.
It was Green’s ninth technical foul of the season. An automatic one-game suspension is issued when a player receives their 16th technical of the NBA regular-season.
‘We need Draymond. I want him out there,’ Kerr said. ‘We’re not halfway through the season yet, so long way to go and we need him.’
Green’s teammates also came to his defense.
‘Believe it or not, Dray sparked us,’ Gary Payton II said. ‘Everybody had to turn it up a notch. You don’t make up for what he does and what he brings to the team. I think after halftime we came out with a little more spark, less turnovers, got in transition and got our shooters open shots.’