It was an abysmal night for Draymond Green.
The record-breaking Warriors looked to take a strangle-hold on their first round series against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, but they eventually found themselves in a 17-point hole.
The Dubs battled back to take a late lead, but James Harden hit a fadeaway jumper to make it 97-96 Rockets with 2.7 seconds to go.
The Warriors had one more shot, but when the ball was passed from the sideline to Green, he immediately fumbled it out of bounds.
It was his seventh turnover of the game, the defining stat of his night, along with nine points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
Afterward, Draymond only blamed himself for the defeat. Via Monte Poole of CSN Bay Area.
“I cost us this game,” he said. “I was horrible.”
RELATED: Draymond Green is humble after losing DPOY to Kawhi Leonard
Of course, there are many more reasons that the Warriors actually lost this game.
As a team, they weren't able to establish the same offensive tempo as the previous two matchups, and, unlike Game 2, they weren't able to push forward without Stephen Curry leading the way.
On night's like this in the regular season, Steph would just take complete control and will Golden State to victory. Without him, they couldn't get it done.
Still, Green stressed that this one was on him.
“I was awful, the whole game,” Green said. “I care about the (late) turnover, but I don’t care to the point where I feel that turnover cost us.
“I cost us the game throughout the game.”
Green went on about his inability to play with the same intensity that he usually brings to the court, and how not having that mentality is what led to all of his turnovers and missed shots.
In the end, it's only one game, and Draymond is determined to respond in Game 4.
“It happens like that sometimes,” he said. “I just have to be better for my team on Sunday.”
Follow Us
Subscribe