Grizzlies’ Brooks suspended for Game 3 vs. Golden State
SAN FRANCISCO — Memphis Grizzlies star Dillon Brooks was suspended for one game without pay by the NBA on Thursday for making “unnecessary and excessive contact” that resulted in a fractured elbow for Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II in Game 2 of the teams’ Western Conference semifinal series.
Brooks must sit out Game 3 on Saturday, when the best-of-seven series shifts to San Francisco tied at one game apiece. Payton is wearing a brace and will be sidelined indefinitely, said Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who has called the play dirty.
Payton was injured in the first quarter of Golden State’s 106-101 loss Tuesday night when Brooks hit him across the head and Payton fell awkwardly on his left arm after driving for a layup. Brooks received a flagrant 2 foul and was ejected.
“It’s disappointing. It’s an unfortunate circumstance. Obviously, we’re going to honor the league’s decision, but you know, it’s a tough play,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said in Memphis. “We obviously wish Gary Payton a speedy and healthy recovery. You don’t want to see anybody get hurt. It’s very unfortunate what happened there.”
The Warriors said Payton also sustained ligament and muscle damage on the play that Kerr said “broke the code” of NBA conduct. Payton underwent an MRI exam in the Bay Area on Wednesday, and his condition will be evaluated again in two weeks.
When asked about the suspension, Kerr said: “It doesn’t matter. Gary’s out. Gary’s out for the next, foreseeable future, for weeks, that’s the only thing that matters to us.”
“He’s crushed,” Kerr added. “Six years toiling away in the league as I said the other night, (now he’s) in the spotlight, playing in the playoffs, playing a huge role, playing well. That’s all been taken away from him. We all feel terrible for Gary. He deserves better.”
Kerr said the Warriors will continue to play their physical style without taking that too far, as he believes Brooks did.
“Keep doing what we’re doing, just play hard, battle for every loose ball, battle for every rebound, compete every possession and don’t risk a guy’s career if he’s ahead of the play in transition, that’s our mantra,” Kerr said.
Golden State rookie Jonathan Kuminga could be called upon to take on a greater role along with Kevon Looney off the bench in the effort to guard the Grizzlies’ Ja Morant after his 47-point performance in Game 2.
Jenkins disagreed the play was dirty.
“I know there’s a narrative out there that was said that between Game 1 and Game 2 that we have to play more physical. Obviously, ‘dirty’ has been thrown out there, but I look at my locker
room, I look at our culture and what we exude, we’re the furthest thing from dirty,” Jenkins said. “We’re competitive, so I want that to be squashed pretty quick here.”
Asked if he objected to Kerr saying the play was dirty, Jenkins replied, “I said what I said.”
“The word physical and dirty has been thrown around. When I have literally talked to my guys about being physical, it’s about ‘Can we stop giving them 23 second-chance points a game?’” he said. “It has nothing to do with the play that happened in Game 2.”
The NBA also announced Thursday that Warriors forward Draymond Green was fined $25,000 for directing an obscene gesture at Memphis fans. He presented them middle finger from each of his hands while going to the locker room to be examined for an injury in the first quarter Tuesday.