Draymond Green bloodied by Xavier Tillman elbow, flips double bird to Grizzlies fans on way to locker room
This one wasn't even called a personal foul.
Just three minutes into Tuesday's Game 2 between the the Grizzlies and Warriors, Golden State's Draymond Green took a hard elbow to his face. The incident occurred during a battle for a loose ball on the Memphis baseline. Green and Grizzlies forward Xavier Tillman both went after the ball, and Tillman swung his left arm, catching Green in the face with his elbow.
Draymond gets elbowed across the face.#NBAPlayoffs #NBA #Green #Elbow pic.twitter.com/cM8DoxBVlb
— Basketball Craze (@bball_craze) May 4, 2022
Green collapsed to the floor as Tillman took possession of the ball and threw an outlet pass to start a 5-on-4 Grizzlies break. Green remained on the ground as the Grizzlies turned the ball over in the Memphis frontcourt. The Warriors called a timeout, and Green left the court for the Warriors locker room, walking on his own. His right eye was bloodied.
He had a message for Grizzlies fans on his way out, flipping the bird with both hands on his way to the tunnel.
Draymond Green keeping it classy on the way to the locker room in Game 2. pic.twitter.com/2V8ZmwkJYG
— Beale Street Bears (@BealeStBearsFS) May 4, 2022
Tillman wasn't whistled for a foul on the play. Officials appeared to missed the blow to Green's face, and the incident wasn't eligible for replay review because the play continued.
The incident occurred just seconds after Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks was ejected for a blow to Gary Payton II's head on a transition layup. Officials reviewed that play and assessed Brooks with a flagrant 2 foul.
Memphis' Dillon Brooks gets tossed for this foul on Golden State's Gary Payton II.
Two games, two ejections between the Warriors and Grizzlies.
🎥 @TSN_Sportspic.twitter.com/nTxWW5PfSX— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 4, 2022
The physical start to Game 2 comes on the heels of Green's controversial Game 1 ejection, where he was assessed with a flagrant 2 foul for swiping Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke in the face and dragging him from midair by his jersey.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was not pleased with the physical start to Tuesday's game..
"No that wasn't physical, that was dirty."
–– Steve Kerr on the Grizzlies' first-quarter playpic.twitter.com/EduKwFDgw6— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 4, 2022
"That wasn't physical, that was dirty," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said of the first quarter during an in-game interview with TNT.
He also said the Payton was at the hospital getting X-rays and that Green required stitches. Green rejoined his teammates for the start of the second quarter. The Warriors said that Green was diagnosed with a right eye laceration.
