What would the NBA Playoffs be for Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green without any controversy? Sunday afternoon, during Game 1 of the second round against Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies, that controversial moment happened. Green got ejected in the second quarter for a Flagrant 2 he committed on Grizzlies big Brandon Clarke.
After the game, Clarke said he wasn't surprised Green fouled him excessively.
“He’s been known for flagrant fouls in his career,” Clarke said on Green. “I’ve watched them on TV my whole life it feels like. I wasn’t really shocked.
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Green and teammate Jordan Poole disagreed and were surprised with the final ruling.
“Personally, I didn't think it was going to be a Flagrant 2, especially throwing him out in the first half,” Poole told ClutchPoints. “I didn't think it was going to happen, but that's what they called, and we did a really good job of fighting all game.”
Initially, the Grizzlies took advantage of Green’s absence, but as time continued to wind down, the Warriors found their stride. Poole finished with a team-high 31 points, and he nearly captured his first triple-double. The third-year guard dished out nine assists and grabbed eight rebounds in the victory over Memphis.
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Although Poole dominated Game 1 of this series, it was a team effort that won this contest without Green. The Warriors outrebounded the Grizzlies 51-47 and outscored them in the paint by 12, 56-44. The Warriors won 117-116, and they've stolen home-court advantage.
The sour taste of defeat will be in Morant and his squad's mouths, and Green will be back in action for Game 2, which should be just as exciting as the first. Unfortunately for Green, though, his Flagrant 2 was not downgraded to a Flagrant 1.
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