The Golden State Warriors came up short 102-100 in their loss to the Charlotte Hornets during the NBA’s Sunday slate. Prior to Terry Rozier converted on a game-winning pull-up at the buzzer, Draymond Green received two technical fouls and was ejected from the game.
With just 9.3 seconds left, there was a jump ball and the basketball ended up in the hands of Gordon Hayward, who subsequently went to the hardwood to protect the ball. Draymond Green dove to tie up the ball to force another jump ball but instead, the Hornets called timeout just prior and the referees acknowledged it.
The decision by the officiating crew to award the Hornets with a timeout was not appreciated by Draymond Green in the slightest. His first technical foul was the result of directing profanity at an opponent and the second technical foul came after using profanity at an official.
“He crossed the line,” Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, via ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “That’s the main thing. We love his passion and his energy. We would not be the team we are without him, but that doesn’t give him license to cross that line, and he knows that.”
After Draymond Green’s technical fouls, Terry Rozier was sent to the free throw line and he made both — tying the game at 100-100 with 9.3 seconds left in regulation. The Charlotte Hornets took advantage of having possession of the ball with Rozier converting on the game-winning pull-up jumper at the buzzer.
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“Draymond can’t do that,” Kerr said. “He knows that. He made a terrible mistake getting T’d up and giving them a chance to shoot two free throws and tie the game. … As his coach, it’s my job to communicate with him and with the team. That’s what we’ve done, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”
The margin for error was substantially thinner for the Warriors in this game since Steph Curry was ruled out right before tipoff. Without an MVP caliber talent in addition to Klay Thompson being sidelined, Golden State needed everyone’s absolute best.
The Golden State Warriors will look to bounce back on Tuesday when they take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Steph Curry is widely expected to return to the lineup as well.
