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Draymond Green receives fourth ejection of season

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Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected less than four minutes into Golden State's 101-93 win over the Magic in Orlando on Wednesday after receiving two technical fouls.

Green was whistled for a foul at the 8:50 mark of the first quarter and disputed it. Two possessions later, after an and-1 foul on Steph Curry generated another stoppage, Green went back to official Ray Acosta to continue his case. Acosta gave him a quick technical and began to walk toward the sideline and eventually the scorer's table to deliver the news. Green continued talking to Acosta — asking him a repetitive question, it appears on video — but was walking toward the timeout huddle, with his back to Acosta, when Acosta whistled him for a second technical and ejected him.

Green walked straight to the locker room without even looking back at Acosta. It was unclear what Green said to earn the ejection — his fourth ejection of the season. Several Warriors were upset with Acosta, letting him and the entire officiating crew know they felt it was too quick and too significant a punishment. Chris Paul spent the next couple of stoppages voicing his displeasure.

Draymond was ejected for this pair of technical fouls in the first quarter … pic.twitter.com/Nm3htPW6GT

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 27, 2024

Draymond picked up two technicals and was ejected after having words with the ref pic.twitter.com/tn2muDIXGo

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 27, 2024

"After a prolonged diatribe, Green directed egregious profane language towards a game official," referee Mitchell Ervin told the Orlando Sentinel's Jason Beede in a pool report when asked why Green received a second technical foul.

Ervin added that the timing of the second technical was not considered before it was handed out and that Green's actions "met the standard for a technical foul."

Green has previously been disciplined for his conduct in games. He was reinstated in January after a 12-game suspension for striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face during a game in December. Joe Dumars, NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations, said Green's "repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts" was considered in the league's decision to suspend Green, which was then for an indefinite period.

Green was ejected from a November game against the Cleveland Cavaliers after receiving two technical fouls. He was also ejected that month from a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after he put Rudy Gobert in a headlock, and he was ejected for striking Nurkić.

When asked Wednesday if Green's history impacted the decision to issue the technical fouls and eject him, Ervin responded, "Absolutely not."

When asked about Green's ejection, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said it was "too bad" and called the situation "unfortunate."

"He deserved it, and you know, he'll bounce back," Kerr said. "I'm just proud of the guys for stepping up."

Kerr's answer was brief when asked if the ejection eroded any of his recent confidence in Green, as he simply said, "No."

Steve Kerr on the Draymond Green ejection: "Too bad. It was unfortunate. He deserved it. He will bounce back."

Asked if it eroded any of the recent confidence Draymond has built: "No" pic.twitter.com/bw4tXlXvA7

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 28, 2024

Curry, when asked about the ejection, said: "All I'll say is we need (Green). He knows that. We all know that. So whatever it takes to keep him on the floor and be available, that's what's gotta happen, especially at this point in the year."

Steph Curry on the Draymond Green ejection: "All I'll say is we need him. He knows that. We all know that. So whatever it takes for him to be on the floor and available, that's what's gotta happen." pic.twitter.com/kgUhktxLOO

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 28, 2024

GO DEEPER

Warriors' Steph Curry gets emotional in win after early Draymond Green ejection

What is the significance of the ejection?

This was a massive game for the Warriors (38-34), who are trying to hold off the Houston Rockets (37-35) to stay in the play-in bracket. They built their game plan against the Magic around a two-big starting lineup of Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis, already missing the scoring punch of Jonathan Kuminga against the giant Magic lineups.

But the Warriors played well in the immediate aftermath of Green's ejection, especially on the defensive end, holding the Magic to 11 first-quarter points to build a 17-point lead. — Anthony Slater, Warriors beat writer

Required reading

(Photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)

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