Controversial Draymond Green ejection puts Golden State Warriors dynasty on life support

A controversial flagrant two foul on Draymond Green has put the Golden State Warriors dynasty on life support as the Sacramento Kings took a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round series matchup.

A grounded Domantas Sabonis grabbed at Green’s leg at the 7:03 mark of the fourth-quarter. Trying to run in transition, Green reacted by stomping on Sabonis’ stomach before pushing off. The Latvian received a technical foul on the play, but the 33-year-old’s ejection aided in the Kings closing the game on a 19-11 run over the last five-and-a-half minutes.

All eyes turn to a possible Draymond Green suspension after the Sacramento Kings took a 2-0 series lead with a 114-106 win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night at Golden 1 Center.

Social media has been divided by the incident in its aftermath, with opinion certain to be influenced by Green’s involvement in previous controversial plays throughout his career. The Warriors were on the way back after trailing by 14 during the third-quarter, but the Kings regained momentum down the stretch to further their stranglehold on the series.

It wasn’t the only bizarre play between Green and Sabonis in the pivotal fourth-quarter. At the 10:44 mark the referee strangely called a foul on the four-time NBA champion as his momentum inadvertently led to a collision. The call was quickly overturned but not without Steve Kerr having to use his one and only timeout.

As much as Green’s ejection may have impacted the final result, Golden State would rue an atrocious 22 turnovers that ultimately overrode the fact they shot better from the field, three-point range, and tied the rebound count after issues in Game 1.

It was also the second-quarter that proved vital after the Warriors put on an early stranglehold. They held the Kings to 17 first-quarter points with nine turnovers and 1-for-13 from three-point range, but the hosts would respond by outscoring their opponent 41-29 in the second to take a 58-52 lead at half-time.

Andrew Wiggins was back in the starting lineup and contributed a productive 22 points and five rebounds, though his re-insertion meant another guard, Donte DiVincenzo, would have to come off the bench. That meant Kerr would wrestle with his rotations all night, often having to play four-guard lineups as he seeked to find a balance between offense and defense.

That issue was exacerbated when Green picked up his fourth foul early in the third-quarter, with Kevon Looney also picking up his fifth shortly after. The Kings would shoot 29 free-throws as opposed to the Warriors 18, with Sabonis responding from a poor Game 1 to tally 24 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Stephen Curry led Golden State with 28 points, though he was pressured all night by a physical Sacramento defense as the two-time MVP shot just 3-for-13 from three-point range. Klay Thompson added an efficient 21, but it was a diabolical game for Jordan Poole whose inefficient shooting caused Kerr to play him for less than 16 minutes.

Green and the Warriors will be sweating on a potential suspension for the former Defensive Player of the Year, with the NBA sure to take another look at the controversial play with Sabonis. Golden State’s season is already walking a tightrope, and a ban to one of their best players may push it well and truly to the brink.