SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State forward Draymond Green was ejected late in the first half of the Warriors' 123-114 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night after consecutive technical fouls for arguing with officials.
Green apparently thought there should have been a 3-second call and was ejected with 2:25 left in the second quarter. He was tossed for the second time in his last four home games — he sat out Friday's lopsided loss to Oklahoma
City to rest.
“We won the game, that's all we care about, that's all he cares about,” Stephen Curry said. “I know he'd rather be out there. I don't know what he said to the ref but I didn't think it was ... the consensus in the locker room was it wasn't enough to get thrown out.”
Also during this stretch, Green left the bench following a heated exchange with coach Steve Kerr during a third-quarter timeout Dec. 22 against Orlando and then went to the locker room on his own to cool down.
Green now has nine technicals this season, and would receive an automatic one-game suspension upon reaching 16. He had eight points, three rebounds and two assists in 12 minutes of action.
Kerr said he didn't hear what Green said but called the ejection “a quick one,” saying it seemed official Kevin Cutler quickly decided to toss Green.
“I assume it was something that Kevin just wasn't going to listen to,” Kerr said.
Kerr said the Warriors need Green to be smart with his emotions.
“We need Draymond and I want him out there. I think he might be up to about nine techs,” Kerr said. “We’re not halfway through the season yet, so long way to go. We need him.”
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