Draymond Green was ejected for stomping on Domantas Sabonis in a dramatic finish to the second game of Golden State’s first-round NBA playoff series against Sacramento.
The incident in question came with just over seven minutes left on the clock in the fourth quarter as Sabonis contested for an offensive rebound and hit the ground.
The Kings center, who was left on the floor, then grabbed at Green’s leg as Golden State’s Steph Curry secured the rebound and went to push the ball up the court.
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In response, Green stomped on Sabonis as he cleared himself from the tussle and ran up the court to get in position to be an option for Curry.
The play was reviewed by officials, with Sabonis called for a flagrant-1 foul while Green’s was deemed a flagrant-2 foul, subsequently seeing the Warriors star ejected.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Sabonis, who played out the remainder of the game, was later taken for X-rays on his ribs and lungs.
An animated Green was also pictured giving it right back to the vocal Sacramento crowd as he exited the game.
The Kings ended up winning the game 114-106 to go up 2-0 in their series against the Warriors as Sabonis fittingly dunked home the final bucket of the night.
“That’s playoff basketball,” Sabonis said post-game when asked about the incident with Green.
“Look at the fans, this is it. We’re here to fight. Everytime we step on the floor we’re going to give everything for our teammates and the franchise.
“We’re both fighting for the rebound and both fouled each other. Stuff happens, it’s basketball. We’ve got to move on.”
Green though did not want to move on when asked about Sabonis’ actions post-game, telling reporters officials need to do something after a similar act from Malik Monk went unpunished in Game 1.
“My leg got grabbed [for] the second time in two nights,” he said.
“The referees just watch it. I’ve got to land my foot somewhere. I’m not the most flexible person so it’s not stretching that far. I can only step so far when pulling my leg away, so it is what it is.
“The explanation was I stomped too hard. I wasn’t surprised he stayed down that long. It was Monk last time, right under the baseline under the rim.
“Either you’re going to stop it, John Goble was looking at Monk holding my leg the last game and just let it go and Zach [Zarba] clearly was watching my leg get held this game and let it go. I guess ankle grabbing is OK.”
Kings coach Mike Brown said it was “for sure” worthy of a flagrant-2 foul while Golden State’s Kerr could not comment too much as he said he did not see the incident.
“I was busy with getting the team ready,” Kerr said.
“One of the coaches told me he might get ejected so I was trying to prepare the team for what was next.”
The majority of NBA experts on social media agreed that while Sabonis was in the wrong for holding onto Green, it did not excuse the veteran’s actions in response.