Draymond Green shows vintage form with 5th foul against Thunder
With Stephen Curry sidelined with a quad contusion, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler were tasked with carrying batons for Golden State Warriors against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chase Center on Tuesday.
The Thunder built a big lead at halftime63-44, but the Warriors rallied in the third quarter to get closer. Green, however, was whistled for his fifth foul with five minutes left in the quarter, forcing coach Steve Kerr to substitute him.
It was a tough outing for the Warriors, as the 35-year-old Green anchored their defense as usual. He’s also the team’s emotional engine and constant communicator on the floor, so Golden State can’t afford to lose him for extended minutes.
With Curry already out and Butler is out with a knee injuryGolden State needs Green more than ever.
The veteran forward had many instances of being in foul trouble due to his aggressive defense. But it is also not an exaggeration to claim that he was also targeted by the referee because of his brash personality.
Green, however, remained unapologetic about his physical style. After all, it helped the Warriors win four championships and earned him nine All-Defensive Team and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
The Warriors are looking for their third win in four games. They took the lead midway through the fourth quarter, but the Thunder quickly stormed back.
At the time of writing, OKC is slightly ahead with two minutes left in the contest.
2025-12-03 06:12:00
