OKLAHOMA CITY — The Warriors are in familiar territory.
Down 2-1 in a series. On the road. Recall the Finals last year. They trailed the Cavs with Game 4 in Cleveland. Everyone knows how that went.
This time could have been oh so different. The Warriors were an NBA decision away from facing the jumbo-sized Thunder with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook Tuesday in Game 4 without Draymond Green, their heart, soul, emotional guru. But as of Monday night, he was essentially their paroled forward.
The NBA elected not to suspend Green for his Game 3 groin kick on Thunder center Steven Adams but instead upgraded his Flagrant Foul 1 to a Flagrant 2 and fined him $25,000.
“After a thorough investigation that included review of all available video angles and interviews with the players involved and the officials working the game, we have determined that Green’s foul was unnecessary and excessive and warranted the upgrade and fine,” Kiki VanDeWeghe, executive vice president of basketball operations, said in a statement released by the league.
“During a game, players — at times — flail their legs in an attempt to draw a foul, but Green’s actions in this case warranted an additional penalty.”
The play, which by now has been seen probably more than Willie Mays’ catch, the lunar landing or any “Seinfeld” episode, occurred with 5:57 left in the half of Oklahoma City’s lopsided 133-105 Western Conference Finals win over the Warriors on Sunday at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Green has three flagrant foul points in the playoffs — he picked up a Flagrant 1 Foul in the first round of the playoffs against Houston. Should he receive another flagrant, he automatically will receive a one-game suspension. Four points brings a suspension.
Green, before both the Warriors’ workout and the verdict was announced, claimed there was no comparison to his action and the case of Cleveland’s Dahntay Jones. After striking Toronto’s Bismack Biyombo in the groin on Saturday, Jones was suspended for Monday night’s game.
“I didn’t see the Dahntay Jones incident, but from what I heard is he punched him. If I come punch you in your head, I probably did that on purpose because I’m going to intentionally use my arm. I don’t think you can ever really compare a leg to an arm,” Green said.
“So I don’t think it could be compared to a punch, a leg going in the air. It’s completely different,” said Green, who noted his frustration in playing what coach Steve Kerr called “one of his worst games” — shooting 1-of-9, scoring six points.
“That’s what was frustrating to me. I was just bad,” said Green, who was even more upset opposing crowd boos — “I love boos” — did not propel him to play better.
The league verdict upheld the belief Kerr stated postgame Sunday and again Monday.
“The issue is he got him in the wrong place, and it was unfortunate. But I don’t think there was any intent behind it. I don’t think he’ll be suspended,” Kerr said.
Green also noted the locale of the kick, claiming referee Scott Foster told him he did not think the action intentional but because of the spot where Adams was hit, a flagrant was deemed necessary.
So now the Warriors’ worry is stopping OKC’s size along with Durant and Westbrook. And doing so from a 2-1 deficit. But they came back last year against both the Cavs and Grizzlies.
“It feels the same. We know what we have to do. It’s Game 4, we have to win. We’ll do whatever it takes to get that done,” Stephen Curry said. “Obviously, they’re a different opponent and have different strengths. … We’ve got a game plan for how we’re going to win, execute it for 48 minutes, be a tougher team, be a harder-working team … and get it done.
“We’ve done it two times already last year. Obviously, you can’t just come out and show up and think it’s going to be easy to get it done, but we know what the mission is in front of us.”