Within seconds midway through the second quarter, Draymond Green raised the temperature of the meeting between Golden State and Memphis. The Warriors interior reacted to a Santi Aldama basket, especially to a little nudge. Hand on his opponent's chest, Green lectures him.
The game continues, the Californians score and the Grizzlies take a timeout. It could have ended like this, but Draymond Green and Taylor Jenkins are talking with a referee, and Desmond Bane interferes. The two players start to grab each other, and tempers get heated.
Result: a stampede, with Draymond Green forced to step back and pushing Gary Payton II and Taylor Jenkins behind his back. The two find themselves on the ground as the tension goes down again.
“It woke up our team a little”, commented Draymond Green talking about this episode. The Warriors will indeed end the first period with a 19-10, including a 10-0 in the last two minutes.
Returning from the locker room, the 2022 champions will hit the nail on the head with a 12-0 lead to start the third quarter. The spark brought from within bore fruit. “These last minutes of the second quarter allowed us to have momentum and a lead at the break”confirms Steve Kerr after the victory of his troops.
“There is a history with this team and it is still very committed. The Grizzlies are physically tough. They never back down. As soon as we play them, in general, there are sparks”concludes the Warriors coach.
| Draymond Green | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | GOS | 79 | 13 | 32.7 | 20.9 | 81.8 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 2.9 |
| 2013-14 | GOS | 82 | 22 | 40.7 | 33.3 | 66.7 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 6.2 |
| 2014-15 | GOS | 79 | 32 | 44.3 | 33.7 | 66.0 | 1.4 | 6.8 | 8.2 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 11.7 |
| 2015-16 | GOS | 81 | 35 | 49.0 | 38.8 | 69.6 | 1.7 | 7.8 | 9.5 | 7.4 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 14.0 |
| 2016-17 | GOS | 76 | 33 | 41.8 | 30.8 | 70.9 | 1.3 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 7.0 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 10.2 |
| 2017-18 | GOS | 70 | 33 | 45.4 | 30.1 | 77.5 | 1.1 | 6.6 | 7.6 | 7.3 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 11.0 |
| 2018-19 | GOS | 66 | 31 | 44.5 | 28.5 | 69.2 | 0.9 | 6.4 | 7.3 | 6.9 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 7.4 |
| 2019-20 | GOS | 43 | 28 | 38.9 | 27.9 | 75.9 | 0.5 | 5.7 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 8.0 |
| 2020-21 | GOS | 63 | 32 | 44.7 | 27.0 | 79.5 | 0.9 | 6.3 | 7.1 | 8.9 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 7.1 |
| 2021-22 | GOS | 46 | 29 | 52.5 | 29.6 | 65.9 | 1.0 | 6.3 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 7.5 |
| 2022-23 | GOS | 73 | 32 | 52.7 | 30.5 | 71.3 | 0.9 | 6.3 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 8.5 |
| 2023-24 | GOS | 42 | 27 | 48.6 | 40.6 | 75.4 | 1.4 | 5.8 | 7.1 | 6.1 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 8.8 |
| Total | 800 | 29 | 45.0 | 31.9 | 71.3 | 1.1 | 5.9 | 7.0 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 8.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
