NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars stands by the league’s decision to suspend Draymond Green after the latter stomped on Domantas Sabonis’ chest in the fourth quarter of Monday’s Game 2 affair between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.
“Here’s what it came down to: Excessive and over-the-top actions, conduct detrimental, and a repeat offender,” Dumars told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “That’s what separates this where you end up with a suspension.”
Green was given a flagrant-2 foul for his actions and ejected with 7:03 remaining in the contest. The four-time All-Star subsequently incited the crowd as he left the court, which Dumars says factored into the Association’s decision to suspend Green.
With Green bounced from the game, the Warriors lost their secondary playmaker and one of their top interior defenders. Sacramento immediately capitalized on Green’s absence around the basket, scoring 12 points in the paint as it pulled away to go up 2-0 in the series.
The timing of Green’s suspension couldn’t come at a worse time for Golden State, but Dumars maintains that the Warriors forward’s past history warranted punishment.
“You know what the situation is, but you have to set that aside and look at the facts in front of you. … Repeat offender weighs as heavy as anything,” Dumars said.
The series now shifts to Chase Center, where the Warriors went 33-8 during the regular season.
Sabonis is officially listed as questionable for Thursday’s matchup after sustaining a sternum contusion in the incident with Green.
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