Draymond Green‘s technical fouls have finally caught up to him.
On Thursday, the NBA announced a one-game suspension for the Golden State Warriors forward after he received his 16th technical foul of the season — one over the league limit — during Wednesday night’s matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Green will serve his suspension Friday night when the Warriors visit the Atlanta Hawks. There was some hope in the organization that the NBA might rescind the technical, but the league upheld the ruling after Thursday’s review.
Green committed his ill-fated 16th technical late in the second quarter of Wednesday’s contest. With 40 seconds remaining before halftime, Green appeared to throw the basketball at Russell Westbrook after the Clippers had scored a bucket. That act drew the tech.
The 33-year-old will have to keep his nose clean throughout the remainder of the season or he could face further consequences from the league. According to the NBA’s released statement on Thursday, Green would face another game suspension without pay for every two technical fouls he receives over the remainder of the regular season. The Warriors have 11 games left on their schedule.
Green’s absence could be a massive headache for the Warriors even beyond the normal headaches the emotional vet brings to the court. Ahead of Friday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, the Warriors are facing the possibility of having only seven available players, with Steph Curry (thumb) and Kevon Looney (back) listed on the Warriors’ injury report.
At 36-34, the Warriors hold a slim advantage for the sixth seed in the Western Conference. While six teams are within 2.5 games or fewer of the Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks represent the closest threat in the standings to the defending champs. Both teams trail the Warriors by only a game, sporting 35-35 records.
