The Bounce: Draymond Green suspended … again. Here’s why

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Tom Thibodeau, please take your starters out when the game is decided.

NBA Lays Down Law

No Green in Game 3

The Sacramento Kings are playing incredible basketball through the first two games of their series with the Golden State Warriors, and all anybody can talk about is Draymond Green stomping on Domantas Sabonis’ chest in Game 2. Unfortunately in this space, we will be no different … for now.

There’s plenty of time to celebrate what the Kings are doing throughout the week. But the NBA announced last night that Green will be suspended for Game 3, citing:

“The suspension was based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.”

You may remember all the kicking and hitting below the belt Green did in the 2016 playoffs, which eventually led to a suspension in the NBA Finals. His absence helped the Cavaliers start their historic comeback to win the title.

It’s fair to wonder if Green missing the final 7:03 of Game 2 was enough of a penalty. And if he didn’t have this history, it probably would have been, especially considering his team lost the game. You want the best players available in the playoffs. However, Green keeps finding himself in these situations, and he’s brazenly unapologetic. That’s not always going to sit well with the powers that be.

Game 3 is at 10 p.m. ET Thursday on TNT.

Latest From Shams

Inside Green’s suspension

Draymond Green will be suspended, without pay, for Game 3 of the Warrors-Kings series when it heads back to the Bay with Golden State in a dire 0-2 hole.

So what happened with the deliberations?

Sources briefed on the discussions tell me the league had been leaning toward not suspending Green throughout the day on Tuesday. But, ultimately, as discussions wore on, the totality of Green’s history, a feeling that Green retaliated aggressively to Domantas Sabonis grabbing his leg and — perhaps the most overlooked issue of it all — Green’s aggressive taunting of the crowd following the incident, all tipped the scales toward the final decision to suspend him.

Now the defending champs will try to dig out of their hole without one of their key leaders.

Back to you, Zach.

No More Streaking

Booker helps end CP3’s curse

Chris Paul was on a 13-game losing streak. Not in this series or in this season. We’re talking about in life when referee Scott Foster officiated one of Paul’s playoff games. Entering Tuesday, CP3’s teams were 2-17 overall in playoff games in which Foster was officiating. That streak is no more thanks to Devin Booker.

Booker had 25 of his 38 points in the second half as the Suns weathered big, early performances from Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook on their way to a 123-109 victory to even up the series at 1-1. Kevin Durant scored 25 points, and Torrey Craig knocked down five 3-pointers to help get the win. Phoenix shot 60 percent from the field in the second half.

Paul had 18 points and nine assists. Maybe CP3 should thank Durant, as well, who is now 17-9 when Foster officiates a playoff game of his. During the fourth quarter, Paul could be seen saying, “Please,” toward Foster while also giving him prayer hands. After the game, CP3 jokingly played dumb about it.

More: Kawhi Leonard and the ‘marathon’ of ACL recovery

Game 2: Celtics 119, Hawks 106 – Celtics lead series 2-0

Don’t look now, but Trae Young has been really bad in the playoffs. He had 24 points on 9-of-22 shooting, so he cleared 40 percent from the field for just the third time in his last eight playoff games. He also had six assists, five turnovers and shot just 2 of 8 from deep, as the Celtics handled the Hawks once again.

Young is now shooting 31.8 percent from the field in his last eight postseason contests with 10-of-57 from deep (17.5 percent), 53 assists and 46 turnovers. The Celtics have a phenomenal backcourt rotation, and Derrick White was great in this game. But it’s time to see Young lead his team, or at least not lose and wear Celtics green to the podium.

Game 2: Cavs 107, Knicks 90 – Series tied 1-1

The Cavs responded perfectly to a frustrating Game 1 loss by absolutely shredding the Knicks. They held the Knicks to 36.7 percent shooting from the field, while Darius Garland (32 points) and Caris LeVert (24) dominated throughout the night.

However, the story of this game will be Tom Thibodeau keeping Julius Randle in the game way too long. With roughly 2:30 left and the Cavs up 23, Randle had a breakaway dunk opportunity. Inexplicably, Jarrett Allen was still in the game too for the Cavs. He tried to execute a chase-down block and ended up crashing into Randle on the dunk attempt.

Allen was given a Flagrant 1 foul and defended his block attempt by calling it a hustle play. Randle was visibly upset by it. Thibodeau explained that Randle was in because the forward asked to remain in the game a few possessions prior when Thibodeau tried to sub him out. He’s lucky Randle is OK after the fall. Remember, Derrick Rose got hurt over a decade ago because Thibodeau left him in a decided game for no reason.

More: The No Dunks crew wraps up last night’s action

De’Aaron Fox (Kyle Terada / USA Today)

Mr. Clutch

The clutchiest player in the world

Much like in crunchtime this season, De’Aaron Fox dominated the voting for the first ever Jerry West Clutch Player of the Year award. The Kings point guard ran away with the honor, earning 91 of the 100 first-place votes. He also had one second-place vote and two third-place votes, meaning six ballots kept him off. That’s insane.

Fox was No. 1 in clutch points this season. He finished 35 points ahead of second place in clutch points DeMar DeRozan.
Fox shot 52.9 percent from the field in the clutch.
He had the second most game-tying or lead-taking shots in the final 30 seconds of a game (five).

Jimmy Butler finished second in voting, DeMar DeRozan was third. Joel Embiid finished fifth in voting behind Jalen Brunson. On my official ballot, I voted for Fox No. 1, Butler second and Embiid third.

Must Wins-day?

Grizzlies, Bucks fight through injuries

With three games on Wednesday’s slate, here’s one thing each trailing team can change to avoid going down 0-2:

Grizzlies: Get back on defense. They allowed 26 fast-break points to the Lakers in Game 1. Also, Ja Morant if he plays, needs to be awesome. Also, the Grizzlies should stop trying to score against Anthony Davis one-on-one. (Lakers at Grizzlies, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

Bucks: Defend the 3-point line better. The Heat shot 60 percent from deep in Game 1 as the Bucks struggled to find any rhythm shooting from distance. Giannis Antetokounmpo playing would obviously solve a lot. (Heat at Bucks, 9 p.m. ET, NBA TV)

Timberwolves: Slap Nikola Jokić’s wrist pregame? The Nuggets center is listed as questionable with a sore wrist. Also, the Wolves need to get out and run. They had three fast-break points in Game 1. (Wolves at Nuggets, 10 p.m. ET, TNT)