Draymond Green ejected in 2nd half for Golden State Warriors

PHOENIX — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected from Tuesday night’s 119-116 loss to the Phoenix Suns after receiving a flagrant foul 2 in the second half.

The foul occurred with 8:23 left in the third quarter when Green swung and hit Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkic in the head while defending him.

At first, while Green’s back was turned to Nurkic, he repeatedly held Nurkic off of him. Eventually, Green turned and hit Nurkic in the head with his hand.

“I haven’t seen it,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “I haven’t seen a replay, so I don’t have any comment on it.”

When pressed further on Green’s absence at that point in the game, Kerr elaborated.

“Huge swing. We kind of felt good about having him at the five (spot), spreading the floor. We had shooters out there,” he said. “Obviously, it changed the lineup around. We thought that could get [Stephen Curry] some space and Draymond could use his speed.”

This was Green’s third ejection, tied for the most in a season in his career. The second was against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 14 when he put Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert in a headlock. Green was suspended for five games after the incident, with the league citing his history as a repeat offender for this behavior as the reason for the suspension’s length.

Green will await a league office review for the possibility of another suspension.

“We need him. We need Draymond. He knows that,” Kerr said. “We’ve talked to him. He’s got to find a way to keep his poise and be out there for his teammates.”