The Golden State Warriors earned a gritty 119-116 win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, Dec 20th, snapping a three-game losing streak dramatically. And while the scoreboard says victory, the story of the night centered around Draymond Green’s early exit and Steph Curry’s surprising reaction to it.
Draymond Green ejected in choppy, physical start
Golden State entered the matchup looking for revenge after falling 99-98 to Phoenix two nights earlier. But things unraveled quickly when Draymond Green picked up two technical fouls in rapid sequence early in the second quarter.
Green was first whistled for a foul after colliding with Suns guard Collin Gillespie. When he continued arguing the call, officials hit him with a second technical, triggering an automatic ejection. It was a major blow for a Warriors team already struggling to rediscover its defensive identity.
After the game, Curry acknowledged the challenge of losing their emotional anchor so early.
It was a weird, choppy, physical game in the first quarter and spilled into the second quarter.
Curry explained.
But instead of folding, Golden State responded. And according to Curry, Green’s departure lit a fire under the roster.
I think it woke us up because without him, we would have had to play even tougher, dig deeper down the rotation.
Curry said.
Curry leads Warriors to bounce-back win
Curry finished with another vintage performance, posting 28 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists on 9-of-19 shooting. Jimmy Butler contributed 25 points, while rookie Will Richard chipped in a breakout 20 off the bench.
The Warriors improved to 14-15 and climbed back into the Western Conference Play-In picture at the No. 8 seed. The victory was especially meaningful given the recent losing skid and mounting questions about chemistry and execution.
Golden State overcame early defensive breakdowns, foul trouble, and the emotional volatility that came with Green’s ejection. While no one in the organization wants to see him removed from a game, Curry admitted that the reality of suddenly playing without their defensive captain helped sharpen the team’s focus.
Losing Green may soon come with league punishment as well-players are fined automatically for every technical foul. With Green already accumulating disciplinary issues this season, fans and analysts expect some form of NBA response.
The Warriors now prepare for a Monday night matchup with the Orlando Magic, hoping to build momentum heading into the new year. For Green, the spotlight will remain on how he manages his intensity without costing games or suspensions.
Still, on Saturday night, his early exit may have been the spark Golden State needed. In Curry’s eyes, the challenge forced a higher level of execution, a silver lining in what could have been another meltdown.
With the Western Conference standings tight and the Warriors battling inconsistency, any emotional turning point matters. If Saturday’s win proves to be one, Draymond Green’s ejection may end up helping the Warriors far more than hurting them.
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