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Warriors' Draymond Green on most recent ejection: 'It just can't happen'

Thu Mar 28 2:45pm ET
Field Level Media

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said Thursday that he deserved to be ejected for his actions less than four minutes into his team's game against the Orlando Magic.

Green received his 19th career regular-season ejection from an NBA game and fourth this season after an exchange with official Ray Acosta on Wednesday.

Green initially took issue with Acosta after being whistled for a personal foul, then approached the official again after teammate Stephen Curry was called for a shooting foul. Green received a technical foul after yelling at Acosta, and he was whistled for another as he continued his unsolicited commentary.

"It just can't happen," Green said Thursday on "The Draymond Green Show" podcast. "I said what I said. I deserved to be kicked out at that point. If I'm all the way honest with y'all, kind of was trying to turn my body and angle it to go to the bench, but I said what I said a little too soon before angling my body. ... But, yeah, it just can't happen."


The Warriors defeated the Magic 101-93.

Green, 34, was suspended indefinitely by the NBA after hitting the Phoenix Suns' Jusuf Nurkic in the face during a game on Dec. 12 and wound up missing 12 games. Green also was suspended five games for putting Minnesota Timberwolves forward Rudy Gobert in a headlock in November.

A four-time NBA champion and four-time All-Star, Green is averaging 8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 47 games (44 starts) this season.

Player Notes
Dejounte Murray Thu Mar 28 7:10pm

Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (back) will play against the Celtics.

Al Horford Thu Mar 28 7:10pm

Boston Celtics forward Al Horford (toe) won't play in Thursday's rematch against the Hawks. He continues to be bothered by a toe sprain. However, the 37-year-old logged 36 minutes in Monday's loss to Atlanta, so it's surprising he's unavailable. Fortunately, the C's will get back Jrue Holiday (shoulder) from a five-game absence. But without Horford on the floor, Sam Hauser, averaging 12.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 10 starts this season, remains a viable fantasy asset.

Jrue Holiday Thu Mar 28 7:00pm

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (shoulder) will play on Thursday against the Hawks. The 33-year-old has been sidelined for the last five games because of an AC joint sprain and was listed as questionable for the rematch versus Atlanta. However, he's good to go and won't have any restrictions, which is certainly good news for fantasy managers. Sam Hauser, who has averaged 12.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 10 starts this year, was in line to head back to the bench. Yet, with Al Horford (toe) inactive, there's room for Hauser to remain involved even if he isn't with the first five.

Ayo Dosunmu Thu Mar 28 4:10pm

Chicago Bulls guards Alex Caruso (ankle) and Ayo Dosunmu (illness) are probable for Friday's tilt against the Brooklyn Nets. Caruso continues to deal with a sprained left ankle, and Dosunmu is managing an upper respiratory illness, but they are likely to suit up for the Bulls on Friday. Both guards are offering top-50 value in nine-category leagues over the past two weeks of action, with Caruso notching double scoring figures as well as multiple triples and steals in six of his past seven showings and Dosunmu averaging 22.3 points, 5.3 assists, 1.2 swipes, and 2.7 triples across his last six games. They will both be worth deploying against a Nets squad permitting the most three-pointers (3.6) to opposing point guards this season.

Darius Garland Thu Mar 28 4:00pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (ankle) is probable for Friday's contest versus the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite a sprained right ankle, Garland is expected to play on Friday. The 24-year-old All-Star guard has helped pick up the slack in Donovan Mitchell's (knee, nose) absence, supplying 19.1 points, 7.0 dimes, 3.3 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 3.3 three-pointers covering his latest 15 appearances but is hurting nine-category fantasy managers with 3.0 turnovers per contest over this period. If Mitchell returns to Cleveland's lineup against the Sixers, Garland could witness a rise in efficiency and a drop in giveaways with less usage on his plate.

Donovan Mitchell Thu Mar 28 3:50pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (knee, nose) is listed as questionable for Friday's game versus the Philadelphia 76ers. The upgrade coincides with a report on Wednesday from The Athletic's Shams Charania that Mitchell was targeting a return on Friday from a six-game absence with a knee injury and nasal fracture. Even so, the two-way superstar's status could ultimately come down to a game-time decision based on pregame warmups. Point forward Caris LeVert's run as a primary ball handler for the Cavs could be nearing a close, averaging 11.8 points, 7.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 threes, and 1.4 steals through his last 12 games (seven starts). He should remain held in all fantasy leagues until Mitchell is officially cleared, though.

Duncan Robinson Thu Mar 28 2:20pm

Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson (back) has been ruled out for Friday's meeting with the Portland Trail Blazers. Left facet syndrome will cost Robinson a fifth game in a row, with the catch-and-shoot wing's next chance to return coming in Sunday's clash with the Washington Wizards. 2022 first-rounder Nikola Jovic has seen the most noticeable increase in playing time during Robinson's absence, logging 25.4 minutes per contest over his past four games (all starts) with averages of 10.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.5 threes. He's a barely-there steamer during the fantasy semifinals against a Portland squad yielding the fifth-fewest treys per game (11.7).

Jimmy Butler Thu Mar 28 2:10pm

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (illness) is probable for Friday's tilt versus the Portland Trail Blazers. Butler was expected to play through his illness in Tuesday's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers before being surprisingly ruled out, but the Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang also reports the 34-year-old two-way superstar was a limited participant in Thursday's practice. Over 13 games since the All-Star Break, Butler is collecting a strong 21.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.9 three-pointers per contest. His return for the Heat would send first-round rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. to Miami's bench, and Butler would be a must-start season-long fantasy option in a soft matchup with the 19-54 Blazers on Friday.

Onyeka Okongwu Thu Mar 28 1:30pm

Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu (toe) has been ruled out for Thursday's contest against the Boston Celtics. Sidelined for a fourth straight game with a sprained left big toe, the 23-year-old paint presence looks to return in Saturday's matchup versus the Milwaukee Bucks. Starting center Clint Capela has posted three consecutive double-doubles in Okongwu's absence, while backup big man Bruno Fernando has received more run from Atlanta's second unit. Fernando is averaging 15.0 points on 76.0% shooting from the field, 6.0 boards, and 2.0 combined steals plus blocks in 21.9 minutes over his last three outings for the 33-39 Hawks, but he'll take on a Celtics team allowing the third-fewest FanDuel points to opposing centers.

Dejounte Murray Thu Mar 28 1:20pm

Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (back) is questionable for Thursday's game against the Boston Celtics. Murray was iffy for Wednesday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers with lower back soreness, and his status remains up in air on the second night of Atlanta's back-to-back. Bogdan Bogdanovic would play more as a point forward if the star guard sits out on Thursday, while 2020 second-rounder Vit Krejci would handle the bulk of the ball-handling duties in this case. Krejci has started the last five games for the Hawks and averaged 10.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.0 three-pointers in 31.9 minutes, but Boston ranks first in the Eastern Conference in opponent field-goal percentage (45.4%).

Keita Bates-Diop Thu Mar 28 10:40am

Brooklyn Nets forward Keita Bates-Diop (shin) will be out for the rest of the year, the team has announced. He has undergone a procedure to address a stress fracture in his right tibia and will need to recover for a month before resuming on-court activities. The Nets finish their regular-season schedule on April 14 against Philadelphia. Bates-Diop has averaged only a handful of minutes across 14 appearances with the Nets since being acquired from Phoenix in February. He missed a second straight game on Wednesday versus Washington.

Dyson Daniels Thu Mar 28 10:30am

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels (knee) will be out for a 21st straight game on Thursday versus Milwaukee, but he could be back in the lineup soon after playing in the G League. Daniels, who underwent meniscus surgery in February, had 22 points across 24 minutes in the Birmingham Squadron's 115-99 loss to the Oklahoma City Blue on Wednesday. The versatile guard has averaged 5.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals during his sophomore season with the Pelicans. His next chance to make a return to the NBA stage comes on Saturday versus Boston.

LaMelo Ball Thu Mar 28 10:20am

Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) will miss the rest of the season, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The talented playmaker has been on the shelf for 29 games already and will remain out for the final couple of weeks. After playing only 36 games last season, Ball will be forced to settle with just 22 outings in 2023-24 as he continues to have awful luck with injuries. Ball notched 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 1.8 steals whilst in the lineup. Vasilije Micic and Tre Mann have taken over the Hornets' backcourt lately and should remain strong fantasy options for the rest of the way.

Jose Alvarado Thu Mar 28 10:10am

New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jose Alvarado (hip) has been tagged as questionable for Thursday's game against Milwaukee. He had to exit Tuesday's clash with OKC due to a hip problem, and the same ailment might keep him off the court entirely on Thursday. Alvarado's potential absence could help Jordan Hawkins re-emerge in the rotation. The rookie is a good three-point threat but doesn't offer much else to fantasy managers.

Jaden Springer Thu Mar 28 10:10am

Boston Celtics guard Jaden Springer (knee) has been labeled as questionable for Thursday's matchup against the Hawks. The youngster was recalled from the G League on Wednesday, but he's troubled by a left knee injury and might be unavailable for Thursday's game. It won't be a big loss for the C's, as Springer has been used very sparingly since he was acquired from Philadelphia. He's made only 13 appearances with the Celtics, averaging 5.5 minutes.

Gabe Vincent Thu Mar 28 10:00am

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (knee) is expected to rejoin the lineup on Sunday versus Brooklyn. Vincent has been unavailable since Dec. 20 due to knee surgery. The former Heat player has been limited to only five games in his first year in L.A. He's posted 5.4 points, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals across 25.4 minutes. Vincent's return gives the Lakers an additional backcourt piece, but he likely won't be making a big impact in fantasy hoops, as there's a lot of competition for playing time.

Al Horford Wed Mar 27 10:50pm

Boston Celtics forward/center Al Horford (toe) is in danger of missing Wednesday's rematch against the Hawks. He is questionable because of a left big toe sprain, an injury he's been battling for the last week. But the 37-year-old has mostly played through the pain and logged 36 minutes when these clubs met on Monday night. With Jrue Holiday (shoulder) potentially in line to miss a sixth consecutive contest, Horford could stay with the starting unit. But if Holiday and Horford are out, Sam Hauser, averaging 12.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 10 starts this season, should continue to receive extra work.

Derrick White Wed Mar 27 10:40pm

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White isn't listed on the league's official injury report heading toward Thursday's rematch with the Hawks. White wasn't in the lineup when these clubs met on Monday because of a hand issue. Yet, this injury isn't new, so he likely just got the night off to take a breather. Sam Hauser got the start, although he finished with just six points. With Al Horford (toe) and Jrue Holiday (shoulder) questionable for Thursday, there could still be room for Hauser to remain with the first five. Considering Hauser had double-digit scoring performances in five of his previous seven games means he has an excellent chance to bounce back.

Aaron Gordon Wed Mar 27 9:30pm

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (foot) will play on Thursday against Phoenix.

Michael Porter Jr. Wed Mar 27 9:30pm

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (illness) will play on Wednesday against Phoenix.