Draymond Green made his anticipated return to the Golden State Warriors on Monday, but his comeback wasn’t enough to secure a victory against the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite Green‘s efforts, the Grizzlies pulled ahead in the final quarter, claiming a 116-107 win and breaking their four-game home losing streak.
Green, who has been away from the court for over a month due to a suspension, managed to contribute seven points, seven rebounds, and four assists in his 23-minute play off the bench. His suspension was a result of an incident where he struck Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurki in the head during a game. Previously, he had faced a five-game suspension in November for an altercation with Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves.
Draymond Green blames himself for Warriors loss: I fucked that off
The suspension period was a tumultuous time for Green, who revealed that he considered retirement. It was a conversation with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver that persuaded him to continue his career. Green was officially reinstated earlier in January and spent the past week preparing for his return.
Green returned to the sound of boos
In Monday’s game at FedExForum, Green was greeted with boos from the crowd, but he appeared unfazed, marking his comeback with a successful 3-pointer early in the game. This shot ignited an 11-3 run for the Warriors, who ended the first quarter six points ahead. The team managed to maintain a narrow lead at halftime, buoyed by Stephen Curry’s 16 points.
However, the fourth quarter saw the Grizzlies, led by Vince Williams with 24 points and seven rebounds, and a career-high 23 points from bench player GG Jackson, seize control. A significant 21-10 run early in the last quarter set the Grizzlies on the path to victory. The Warriors, despite Curry’s 26 points and Kuminga’s double-double off the bench, were hampered by 19 turnovers.
The Warriors, who went 8-8 in Green‘s absence, face a challenging schedule ahead with games against the Utah Jazz and a five-game homestand starting with the Dallas Mavericks. Green’s role in the starting lineup remains to be seen as the team navigates through the season.
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