The Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets series in the first round of the playoffs is becoming more interesting as every game passes. While the Warriors could end the series in Game 5 the Nuggets have been fighting hard to overcome the 3-0 series deficit they had fallen behind. As a result, the basketball on the court for Game 5 is a little aggressive and a lot more meaningful to both teams as it is an elimination game.
Draymond Green already had an incident with Aaron Gordon earlier in the game while he was guarding Gordon. But even on the bench, Green cannot stay away from the heat of the action.
As a leader, Draymond tends to protect his teammates a lot. After Nuggets rookie Nah’Shon ‘Bones’ Hyland drove to the rim on Otto Porter Jr., Porter went down holding his groin, prompting Draymond to get off the Warriors bench and argue the no-call with the referee, remarking how he had been suspended from a Finals game for the same infraction.
"That's a knee to the nuts! I got suspended from the Finals game for that!"
Draymond wasn’t happy after this Bones Hyland foul on Otto Porter Jr. 👀
(via @NBCSWarriors)pic.twitter.com/eK7kHs28X4
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 28, 2022
The incident Draymond is referring to happened in Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals when Green ended up blatantly punching LeBron James in the groin and had to serve a one-game suspension for the same. We all know what happened in the 2016 Finals, so that decision ended up being a lot more important to the result of the series because of Green’s absence in Game 5.
It isn’t clear on the short clip where Bones kneed Porter, but it doesn’t look like any intentional contact took place. However, the game is tied 48 each at the half, so this is bound to pick up more steam over the course of the final two quarters.
Green protecting his teammates is no surprise. However, he may want to keep away from any possible incidents that see him sidelined for a game, especially if Denver wins this game and forces a Game 6.
