It wouldn’t be a Golden State Warriors playoff game without a little drama. In Game 3 of the first round series against the Houston Rockets, Draymond Green once again made sure all eyes were on him and not just for his defense. The Warriors walked away with a solid 104-93 win, but Green nearly stole the spotlight for reasons that had nothing to do with the scoreboard.
Draymond went up strong under the basket, hoping to draw a foul after feeling contact from a Rockets defender. At first glance, from the broadcast camera angle, it really did look like a missed call. Green clearly took some contact as he rose for the shot, and when the ball clanged off the rim, his frustration boiled over. Instead of sprinting back on defense like the play demanded, Draymond turned his focus and his anger straight at the referee.
Draymond Green’s emotions run wild again
He didn’t just yell. He literally chased the ref across the court while the game was still live, drawing gasps from the crowd. Behind him, Stephen Curry and the rest of the team scrambled to keep the play alive. Eventually, Green’s outburst earned him a technical foul, a scene all too familiar for Warriors fans.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 36 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Green finished the night with 7 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, a classic “do it all” stat line that shows why he’s still so important to the Warriors’ system, even when his emotions get the better of him.
Subsequent replays from a baseline camera told a different story. Yes, there was slight contact between Green and the defender, but it appeared minimal, and the ball could be seen hitting the backboard on Green’s off balance shot a hard, physical play typical of the playoffs, the kind that rarely draws a whistle unless it’s blatant. In the heat of the moment, it looked like one. But from another angle and in slow motion, it didn’t seem like the robbery Green thought it was.
Draymond Green’s uncontrolled emotions are well known to fans, even if they don’t always appreciate them. Sometimes they can bring a sense of strength and energy, but they almost always end up giving points to the opponent after the inevitable technical foul. For now, it was just another moment for Draymond, with the Warriors leading the series 2-1.
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