Adams got kicked, uh ouuuuchj pic.twitter.com/SiyRmGLhsy
— ⓂarcusD (@_MarcusD_) May 23, 2016
It’s what we’ve been waiting for all day. After Draymond Green went kung fu on poor Steven Adams in Game 3, everyone’s wondering whether it was intentional, and if the NBA would hand down a one-game suspension.
According the the Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Green will not be suspended for Game 4.
The NBA will not suspend Golden State's Draymond Green for Game 4, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 23, 2016
Sam Amick of USA Today confirms Wojnarowski’s tweet.
No suspension for Draymond Green, I can confirm. @WojVerticalNBA first reported. Told it's a Flagrant 2 & a fine.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) May 23, 2016
Green will pay a $25,000 fine, too.
The fine for Draymond Green, I'm told, is for $25,000. He and the Warriors get to play another day. Quite the break they're catching here.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) May 23, 2016
NBA release on Draymond Green: pic.twitter.com/RiKUg3RX7c
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 23, 2016
The upgrade to a Flagrant 2 means that if Draymond gets whistled for another flagrant foul, it’ll be a mandatory suspension.
NBA release on Draymond Green: pic.twitter.com/RiKUg3RX7c
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 23, 2016
The news flies in the face of earlier reports that trickled out as NBA Twitter waited anxiously to see what happened.
According to a college sports reporter for the San Antonio Express News, he was suspended.
https://twitter.com/TimGriffinBig12/status/734876586537852928
But the same reporter said he had been hacked:
Guys: Just saw a tweet and somebody hacked my account. I have nothing nothing on Draymond. Sorry.
— Tim Griffin (@TimGriffinBig12) May 23, 2016
A proprietary betting site appears to have said the same thing about Green getting suspended, according to this unconfirmed tweet:
Draymond Green news via @sportsoptions. #Warriors #Thunder #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/SI6Ucgvz3Z
— Johnny Detroit (@Johnny_Detroit) May 23, 2016
And there had been heavy enough movement on the game, some thought it was a sign gamblers knew Green was going to be suspended.
Game 4 line moved from Warriors -1.5 to OKC -1.5 in the last two hours.
— CBS Sports NBA (@CBSSportsNBA) May 23, 2016
Nope.
This is has been a lesson in waiting for a legit source.
If Dray hadn’t been allowed to suit up in Game 4, the Warriors would have been at a huge disadvantage, especially considering they’ve already lost homecourt with a Game 1 loss in Oakland. This Warriors team has faced two previous 2-1 deficits while winning their title last season (Memphis and Cleveland), but the Thunder are likely the best team they’ve ever faced in the playoffs since Steve Kerr took over as coach. Green’s suspension might well be the death knell in their drive to repeat as champs and end the greatest regular season in NBA history with a ring.
Cleveland’s Dahntay Jones was suspended for one game — LeBron picked up his $80 bill — for a similar strike on Toronto’s Bismack Biyombo; although, it did seem like Adams and Green buried the beef after the game.
Adams for his part, took his second consecutive game with a blow to his testicles in stride, displaying his trademark wit despite how much discomfort the kick caused.
Game 4 tips off at 9 p.m. ET on TNT Wednesday night. Draymond Green will be playing.
