The Warriors must once again deal with the loss of Draymond Green after another controversial postseason mix-up.
With 7:03 remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 2 and Golden State trailing Sacramento by four points, Green stomped on the chest of Domantas Sabonis after the Kings All-Star held Green's foot from the floor.
As officials reviewed the acts, Green did his best to rile up the crowd at Sacramento's Golden 1 Center, going as far as jumping on the bench to yell at the nearest section.
Green was ultimately assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game. He also earned a suspension, putting the Warriors' comeback hopes in jeopardy.
MORE: Social media reacts to Green ejection
How long Draymond Green suspended for?
Green's suspension is for one game.
The NBA announced on Tuesday night that Green has been suspended for Game 3. In its statement, the league noted that the suspension was "based in part on Green's history of unsportsmanlike acts."
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/KEnWx2qTvs
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 19, 2023
The decision surrounding the discipline of Green will surely jog vivid memories for Silver.
In Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals, Green was retroactively assessed a Flagrant 1 foul by Silver for "excessive conduct" after punching LeBron James in the groin. Because of technical foul accumulation, Green automatically received a one-game suspension and missed Game 5.
The Warriors, of course, went on to lose that series with Green infamously receiving the lion's share of the blame for their 3-1 collapse.
While comparisons to the 2016 incident will certainly surface, it's worth pointing out that Green was not suspended strictly for that play.
As NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe said at the time, "While [Green's] actions in Game 4 do not merit a suspension as a stand-alone act, the number of flagrant points he earned triggers a suspension for Game 5."
NBA flagrant points system, explained
In addition to the suspension, Green added two flagrant foul points to his running playoff total.
The NBA institutes a points system designed to penalize repeat offenders.
During the playoffs, each Flagrant 1 foul is worth one point, and every Flagrant 2 foul is worth two points. If a player's playoff point total exceeds three, he receives an automatic one-game suspension.
Unlike technical fouls, the flagrant foul points do not reset. They actually grow in severity.
- Player at two points receives Flagrant 2: One-game suspension
- Player at three or four points receives Flagrant 1: One-game suspension
- Player at three or four points receives Flagrant 2: Two-game suspension
- Player at five or more points receives Flagrant 1 or 2: Two-game suspension
When is Warriors-Kings Game 3?
The series shifts to San Francisco for Games 3 and 4. Game 3 is on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.
Fans in the U.S. can live stream that game and every NBA playoff game on Sling TV. which is now offering HALF OFF your first month! Stream Sling Orange for $20 in your first month to catch all the games on TNT, ESPN & ABC. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $27.50 in your first month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.
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Warriors-Kings series schedule
Here is the full series schedule:
Date | Game | Time (ET/Result | TV channel |
April 15 | Game 1 | Kings 126, Warriors 123 | ABC |
April 17 | Game 2 | Kings 114, Warriors 106 | TNT |
April 20 | Game 3 | 10 p.m. | TNT |
April 23 | Game 4 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
April 26 | Game 5* | TBD | TBD |
April 28 | Game 6* | TBD | TBD |
April 30 | Game 7* | TBD | TBD |