Golden State flipped an 11-point deficit into a 113-105 triumph over Phoenix on Saturday after forward Draymond Green was tossed less than three minutes into the second quarter. The veteran picked up two quick technical fouls—one for shoving Suns guard Collin Gillespie during transition and another for taunting crew chief Pat Fraher—triggering an automatic ejection.
“Once he’s gone, we know we all have to lock in together,” guard Gary Payton II said. “When we do that collectively, we can be pretty damn good.”
Phoenix had rung up 44 first-quarter points, including five dunks, but shot just 31.8 percent over the next two periods as Golden State’s defense tightened. Stephen Curry acknowledged that Green’s departure “woke us up,” noting the team had to “dig deeper down the rotation” without its emotional leader.
Kerr Blasts Officiating
Head coach Steve Kerr called Green’s ejection “weak” and drew a comparison to an incident two nights earlier, when Houston’s Dillon Brooks delivered what Kerr described as a “premeditated punch” to Curry’s stomach. Brooks received a flagrant-1 after replay review but was not removed from the game. “It’s bizarre to me he wasn’t ejected, suspended or fined,” Kerr said, referencing Brooks’ past playoff foul that fractured Payton’s elbow.
Long-Term Commitment to Curry
During a conversation on The Athletic Show, Kerr revealed he nearly traded for Curry while serving as Phoenix’s general manager in 2009. Although Kerr is in the final season of his current contract, he emphasized he has no intention of stepping away while the two-time MVP remains active. “I will never leave Steph Curry,” he stated.
Richard Steps In as Hield’s Iron-Man Run Ends
Rookie guard Will Richard scored 20 points in 23 minutes after Kerr chose to rest Buddy Hield, ending Hield’s streak of 199 consecutive appearances. Kerr said he “felt terrible” about sidelining Hield—whom he called “the greatest teammate ever”—but wanted to get Richard back on the floor after the first-round pick had sat the previous five games. Kerr added that Hield’s opportunity “will come back around.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
