Draymond Green was ejected from last night’s Warriors-Suns game after smacking Phoenix big man Jusuf Nurkic in the face.
Green hit Nurkic with a spinning backhand as they jostled for position with 8:23 remaining in the third quarter of Golden State’s 119-116 loss.
It is the third ejection of the season for the veteran forward, who was assessed a flagrant foul 2 for the infraction.
Draymond has been ejected after flagrant foul on Nurkić pic.twitter.com/RmrLU5tdw8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 13, 2023
Green could face additional discipline from the NBA for this latest ejection, which comes one month after he put Minnesota Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert in a headlock during an altercation.
“I am not one to apologize for things I mean to do, but I do apologize to Jusuf because I didn’t intend to hit him,” Green claimed after the game. “I sell calls with my arms … so I was selling the call … and I swung and unfortunately I hit him.”
Nurkic, however, wasn’t buying Green’s explanation, saying his actions “had nothing to do with basketball.”
Nurkic: “What’s going on with him, I don’t know. Personally, I feel like that brother needs help. I’m glad he didn’t try to choke me.”
Draymond: “I don’t think I’m an accurate enough puncher to do a full 360 and connect with someone.” pic.twitter.com/Rlpmb1Vcy5
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 13, 2023
With the loss, Golden State fell to 10-13 on the season. The Warriors are currently in 11th place in the Western Conference.