Tensions were high Monday night between Draymond Green and Domantas Sabinis.
The Sacramento Kings, however, still found a way to shine and take a huge 2-0 series lead over the Golden State Warriors.
The Kings won Game 2 of their series opener against the Warriors at the Golden 1 Center, 114-106. The Warriors hadn’t trailed 0-2 in the Finals since 2007, two years before they traded star Stephen Curry out of Davidson.
Draymond Green was ejected after kicking Domantas Sabinis
Green and Sabinis had nothing more than a more physical game in the series until Monday night.
With the Kings down by 4 points midway through the fourth quarter, Green and Sabinis were stuck under the hoop as they fought to recover. Sabinis appeared to be hit in the face as he fell to the ground before wrapping his arms around Green’s leg.
As Green started to go the other way, he went straight up Sabadis’ chest – causing the Kings star to feel pain in the lane.
That prompted a lengthy review as the Kings staff directed Sabonis on the floor, and Green went in behind the seats with several Kings fans.
Green finished with 8 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.
Sanibis was asked by TNT after the win about his feud with Green, but he seemed unfazed by the whole thing.
“No, you know, we’re both struggling to recover.” “We’re down on each other. Things happen. It’s basketball. We’ve got to move on to the next game.”
Sabinis underwent X-rays on his ribs and lungs after the game, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. His status moving forward is unclear, but he finished the game in regulation.
After the incident, Greene said that Sabinis caught his leg and it was the second time in two games that his leg was caught.
“I have to rest my foot somewhere, and I’m not a very flexible person so it doesn’t stretch that far,” he said, via Chris Biederman of the Sacramento Bee. “So far I can only pick and drag my feet. So that’s what it is. . . . The explanation is that I stepped on it too much.”
On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Mark Spears reported that Green requested an X-ray on his right ankle.
Green called the authorities directly. Kings guard Malik Monk also said they caught him in the face of an official in Game 1.
“I guess it’s okay to have an ankle,” he said sarcastically.
In response to the crowd, Green didn’t take anything too seriously.
“I’m having fun right now,” Green said. “It’s a fun game, a fun atmosphere to play in.”
But Kings coach Mike Brown had no doubt Green’s move would warrant his departure.
Green seemed to spend some time assessing the situation. On Monday night, he posted a screenshot of Sabonis seemingly holding his leg on his Instagram story. “No mistakes here. Solid basketball,” he wrote.
Although the Warriors eventually had several chances to jump ahead and Klay Thompson’s late 3-pointer cut the game to one, the Kings responded with a 10-2 run in the final minutes to pull out an 8-point victory. .
Curry led Golden State with 28 points, but shot 3-of-13 from behind the arc. Andrew Wiggins, who returned to the starting lineup Monday night, added 22 points and Thompson finished with 21 points.
Sabinis shot 8-of-12 from the field and led the Kings with 24 points and nine rebounds. De’Aaron Fox had 24 points and 9 assists. They shot just 9 of 38 from the 3-point line, but forced 22 turnovers.
Game 3 of the series is set for Thursday night in San Francisco.
“They did a good job defensively, they pressured us, and we just didn’t connect enough to win a playoff game on the road,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “And when I say that, it was a game-winner with four minutes left or whatever. So we know we have to play better, but we’re going to play better.”
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