Durant gets the boot and so do the Warriors
OAKLAND — Kevin Durant and Draymond Green finally gave the Golden State Warriors an All-Star presence, but that pairing quickly ended because of an emotional outburst that led to an ejection.
Surprisingly, it was not Green who drew the officials’ ire enough to get tossed in the Warriors’ 116-107 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday at Oracle Arena. It was Durant, who received his league-leading fifth ejection with 2.4 seconds left in the first half.
The point of contention: Durant drove toward the basket before encountering three Bucks players, attempted a left-handed layup and fell on the ground after he believed he absorbed contact. No call. Durant then slapped his hands on the floor in frustration.
Then, Durant stood up, walked toward official Tre Maddox and expressed his displeasure about the call. Maddox promptly tossed Durant. Warriors security officials soon intervened, prompting Durant to leave through the entrance tunnel. Durant, who has 14 technicals this season, is two away from drawing a league-imposed one-game suspension without pay with seven games remaining.
So much for the excitement surrounding Durant’s return after missing the past five games because of a rib injury. He had 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting in 17 minutes, and played the entire first quarter. That coincided with the Warriors (54-21) officially losing out on the No. 1 seed behind the Houston Rockets (61-14) after losing their third consecutive game for the first time this season
“You get so high playing the game,” Durant said beforehand. “You get the adrenaline rush of just playing.”
Durant’s adrenaline rush went into overdrive late in the first half before his ejection. Green appeared close at times in receiving an ejection after expressing displeasure with calls, but officials kept their whistles silent. Green only needs one more technical before receiving a one-game suspension without pay.
So instead, Green handled other challenges. After missing the past three games with an overlapping injury (pelvic contusion) and illness (flu), Green finished with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, six assists and five rebounds in 28 minutes. He also assumed ballhandling duties with Stephen Curry sidelined. Though he played with intensity, Green also appeared winded.
“I don’t know if I’ve got my lungs and all of that,” Green said beforehand. “But that’ll come back quick. I’ll be fine.”
Just as the Warriors’ star players were getting their wind back, another key player was injured. Warriors forward Andre Iguodala sat for the entire fourth quarter after experiencing left knee soreness. He limped after absorbing contact following a drive to the basket late in the third quarter. The 34-year-old Iguodala has experienced various injuries, including a sprained wrist, strained back and knee issues.
And then there was the game itself, which broke away after the Bucks closed the first half on an 11-0 run.
Milwaukee then outscored the Warriors, 34-23, in the third quarter. The Warriors still had plenty of balance with Quinn Cook (careerhigh 30 points), Patrick McCaw (12) and JaVale McGee (12). But the Warriors were sloppy (19 turnovers) and undisciplined (allowing 56 points in the paint). The Bucks (40-35) had four players crack double figures in Giannis Antetokounmpo (32 points), Khris Middleton (23), Eric Bledsoe (20) and Jabari Parker (14).