Stephen Curry said the Golden State Warriors cannot afford to continually lose Draymond Green after the forward received another ejection in Wednesday’s 101-93 win over the Orlando Magic.
Green had been on his best behaviour since returning from an indefinite suspension in January, which was handed down after he struck Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face in December.
However, he was ejected less than four minutes into Wednesday’s game at Kia Center, receiving two technical fouls for yelling at official Ray Acosta.
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Green’s first technical came when he remonstrated with Acosta after Curry was called for a shooting foul, and another followed soon afterwards as he continued to vent his frustration.
After the game, Crew chief Mitchell Ervin told a pool reporter that Green had directed an “egregious profane vanguard” against the official. It was the 34-year-old’s fourth ejection of the season.
The Warriors responded as Curry scored 17 points in support of Andrew Wiggins (23) to help the team to back-to-back wins, but the two-time MVP said they need to keep Green on the court in the future.
“We need him. He knows that. We all know that,” Curry said. “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.
WEDNESDAY’S FINAL SCORES
Steph and the @warriors win in Orlando to keep a hold on the 10th seed out West!
Andrew Wiggins: 23 PTS, 6 REB, 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/4P2EvyvNJF
— NBA (@NBA) March 28, 2024
“We know how important this part of the season is in terms of our ability to get into a rhythm and secure a Play-In opportunity. 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.”
Head coach Steve Kerr accepted Green could have no complaints about his dismissal, saying: “It was too bad. It was unfortunate. He deserved it. He’ll bounce back.”
Green is the first player to be ejected four times in a single NBA campaign since Kevin Durant was tossed five times in 2017-18, while he is the only player with multiple first-quarter ejections in any season within the last 20 years.
However, the Warriors now sit at 38-34 and occupy the final Play-In spot in the Western Conference, though the 37-35 Houston Rockets are still hoping to overhaul them in the season’s closing weeks.
