‘The refs just watch it’: NBA playoff drama as Draymond fumes after ejection for stomping on Sabonis
Draymond Green was ejected for stomping on Domantas Sabonis in a dramatic end to the second recreation of Golden State’s first-round NBA playoff sequence towards Sacramento.
The incident in query got here with simply over seven minutes left on the clock within the fourth quarter as Sabonis contested for an offensive rebound and hit the bottom.
The Kings middle, who was left on the ground, then grabbed at Green’s leg as Golden State’s Steph Curry secured the rebound and went to push the ball up the court docket.
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In response, Green stomped on Sabonis as he cleared himself from the tussle and ran up the court docket to get in place to be an possibility for Curry.
The play was reviewed by officers, with Sabonis referred to as for a flagrant-1 foul whereas Green’s was deemed a flagrant-2 foul, subsequently seeing the Warriors star ejected.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Sabonis, who performed out the rest of the sport, was later taken for X-rays on his ribs and lungs.
An animated Green was additionally pictured giving it proper again to the vocal Sacramento crowd as he exited the sport.
The Kings ended up profitable the sport 114-106 to go up 2-0 of their sequence towards the Warriors as Sabonis fittingly dunked dwelling the ultimate bucket of the evening.
“That’s playoff basketball,” Sabonis mentioned post-game when requested concerning the incident with Green.
“Look at the fans, this is it. We’re here to fight. Everytime we step on the floor we’re going to give everything for our teammates and the franchise.
“We’re both fighting for the rebound and both fouled each other. Stuff happens, it’s basketball. We’ve got to move on.”
Green although didn’t need to transfer on when requested about Sabonis’ actions post-game, telling reporters officers have to do one thing after an analogous act from Malik Monk went unpunished in Game 1.
“My leg got grabbed [for] the second time in two nights,” he mentioned.
“The referees just watch it. I’ve got to land my foot somewhere. I’m not the most flexible person so it’s not stretching that far. I can only step so far when pulling my leg away, so it is what it is.
“The explanation was I stomped too hard. I wasn’t surprised he stayed down that long. It was Monk last time, right under the baseline under the rim.
“Either you’re going to stop it, John Goble was looking at Monk holding my leg the last game and just let it go and Zach [Zarba] clearly was watching my leg get held this game and let it go. I guess ankle grabbing is OK.”
Kings coach Mike Brown mentioned it was “for sure” worthy of a flagrant-2 foul whereas Golden State’s Kerr couldn’t remark an excessive amount of as he mentioned he didn’t see the incident.
“I was busy with getting the team ready,” Kerr mentioned.
“One of the coaches told me he might get ejected so I was trying to prepare the team for what was next.”
The majority of NBA specialists on social media agreed that whereas Sabonis was within the flawed for holding onto Green, it didn’t excuse the veteran’s actions in response.
