ORLANDO, Fla. -- Since Draymond Green returned from his indefinite suspension in January, the Golden State Warriors have applauded the way he has maintained his fire while managing not to cross the line. He would bark at officials and play with physicality but did so without taking it too far.
Until Wednesday night.
Green was ejected less than four minutes into the Warriors' eventual 101-93 win over the Orlando Magic.
He had been chirping at official Ray Acosta after being called for his first personal foul. A few plays later, after Stephen Curry was called for a shooting foul, Green approached Acosta and began yelling at him. Acosta issued a technical foul, and when Green didn't stop, Acosta gave him another, ending his night at the 8:24 mark of the first quarter.
"We need him. He knows that. We all know that," Curry said of Green. "So whatever we need to do to keep him on the floor and be available, that's what's got to happen. Especially at this point in the year. It was a tough way to start the game."
Crew chief Mitchell Ervin told a pool reporter that Green was given the second technical foul because "after a prolonged diatribe, Green directed egregious profane vanguard towards a game official." Ervin said Green's history "absolutely" did not have an impact on the decision to hand out two T's.
Green's actions this season -- including putting Minnesota Timberwolves forward Rudy Gobert in a headlock in November and hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the head in December -- as well as several other incidents last season were taken into account for the two suspensions Green served this campaign.
As Green made his way off the court Wednesday night, Warriors coach Steve Kerr voiced his displeasure with the referees. During the subsequent timeout, Curry paced back and forth while shaking his head. Cameras caught Curry visibly emotional as he pulled his jersey over his face.
"We know how important this part of the season is in our ability to get into a rhythm and secure a play-in opportunity," Curry said of what was going through his head at that moment. "We don't want to give ourselves self-inflicted wounds. We all care. We all are passionate about the game and our chances to have something to play for down the stretch. You give everything you've got to this game. That's the emotion."
It was Green's career-high fourth ejection of the season. He is the first player to be ejected at least four times in a season since Kevin Durant was tossed five times in 2017-18, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
It also marked the second time Green was ejected in the first quarter this season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he is the only player with multiple first-quarter ejections in a season over the past 20 campaigns.
"Too bad. It was unfortunate," Kerr said. "He deserved it. He'll bounce back."
Green didn't speak with reporters after the game, but he celebrated the Warriors' victory in a post on X.
Great DUB!! Appreciate my dawgs holding it down! On to the next one!
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 28, 2024
BOUNCE BACK!
Kerr said Wednesday's ejection didn't change his outlook on the improvements Green has made since his January return from the second suspension.
Curry agreed, saying it's a situation the team will quickly move on from. He said he spoke to Green after the game -- as he has constantly this season and over their 12 years as teammates -- reminding Green of how he needs to keep a handle on his emotions.
Curry, who is typically stoic on the court, closed the contest with just as much visible emotion as he started it with.
After hitting the dagger shot -- a step-back 3-pointer over Orlando's Jalen Suggs with 33 seconds left in regulation -- Curry pulled out his signature "night night" celebration as he ran down the side of the court. Then, as he reached the Warriors bench, he kicked three chairs.
"I was letting out a little steam," Curry said. "Nothing is guaranteed in this league. The way that we went out and competed ... the way the season is going, maybe it's the way you see how your back is against the wall. I don't know how many people would have picked us in this kind of game -- back-to-back setting, down two starters -- and we found a way to fight to get a win."