Following a demoralizing loss in Game 3 which featured a potential series-changing moment, Golden State Warriors All-Star Draymond Green says his team must go into every upcoming game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a do-or-die attitude.
“From this point on, we have to treat every game like a Game 7,” Green said, via ESPN’s The Undefeated. “We’ve been here before. We’ve been here before in the [last year’s] finals and against Memphis [in the second round]. It’s not the first time having to battle back from this. But, every time we’ve been there, we responded well. We have to make sure we stick to the basics and do what it takes to win.”
Green played 32 minutes during Golden State’s 133-105 loss in Oklahoma City on Monday night. He scored six points on 1-of-9 shooting, while committing four turnovers and accumulating only four rebounds and three assists.
Green also drew a controversial flagrant foul call in the second quarter. After a hard foul, Green kicked Thunder center Steven Adams in the groin during his follow through. Oklahoma City out-scored the Warriors by 17 points immediately after the call, taking a 25-point lead into half time.
Green said the groin kick was an accident, but the NBA will review the incident.
“I didn’t intentionally kick him down there,” Green said. “Whether he believes me or not, which I don’t think he will and wouldn’t in the moment, which is why I didn’t say anything. I would definitely apologize and I look forward to apologizing to him, if I see him.”
Green blamed physics for the kick, citing the hard foul as the reason his leg kicked forward.
If the NBA doesn’t buy his reasoning and finds malicious intent, Green could be suspended for Game 4.
The Thunder would then have a golden opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 series lead with another home win, while the Warriors would attempt to even the series and steal back home court advantage without one of their best players.
Green remains confident despite Sunday’s result.
“We expected them to be tough,” Green said. “But we don’t worry about what someone else is doing. If we do what we have to do, everything else will take care of itself. If we play our best game and they play their best game, I think we win.”
Head coach Steve Kerr said his do-it-all forward must shake off the events of Game 3.
“He needs to re-focus a little bit. He’ll admit it,” Kerr said. “It was not one of his best games. In fact, it was one of his worst.”
The defending champions will now attempt to re-group for Game 4, while not knowing if Green will be available.
