SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected from Thursday’s 116-86 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers after picking up two technical fouls in the second quarter. He now has 14 technicals on the season, meaning two more will earn him an automatic one-game suspension.
The first technical came after Green was whistled for a foul under the basket with 5 minutes, 56 seconds left in the second quarter. Green exchanged some words with official Tyler Ford and earned the technical.
The second technical came a few seconds later after Green felt he was pushed by Lakers center Dwight Howard. Official Marat Kogut whistled Green for trying to trip Howard after Green fell to the ground. Watching Green yell about the call from behind the play, Ford gave Green his second technical and ejected him from the game.
Green continued yelling at the officials for a few moments before walking off the floor and directly back to the Golden State locker room.
After the game ended, Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged being frustrated that Green let his emotions get the better of him.
“We needed him in the second half,” Kerr said. “We missed him out there.”
Green, who missed the previous two games because of a pelvic contusion, had 2 points, 4 assists and 4 fouls in 10 minutes before being ejected.
Aside from Green’s ejection, the Warriors faced another setback when backup point guard Ky Bowman turned his right ankle late in the fourth quarter. He had to be helped to the locker room and is scheduled to get an MRI on Friday.
“Ky, he rolled his ankle pretty well,” Kerr said. “It’s not going to be a day-to-day thing. He won’t go on the trip [to Phoenix for Saturday’s game]. I think he’ll get an MRI [Friday].”
Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins was a late scratch from Thursday’s game because of back spasms. Rookie guard Jordan Poole turned his right ankle in the third quarter but returned to the game.
As for guard Stephen Curry, the date for his return from a broken hand remains in question. Kerr said he was hopeful that Curry could get some more scrimmage time under his belt before returning, but noted that the rash of injuries the Warriors have dealt with will not have an impact on whether Curry returns Sunday against the visiting Washington Wizards.
The Warriors are not scheduled to have a formal practice before flying to Phoenix on Friday, but might be able to put Curry through some workouts with a combination of young players and staff members before making the trip, to gauge how ready he is to return.
“Steph’s return will have everything to do with his own preparation,” Kerr said. “The injuries won’t have anything to do with that. So we’ll determine in the next couple of days whether he’s ready or not.”
