Fans erupt over NBA Finals furore as Warriors run riot in Game 2
The Golden State Warriors ran away with game two to tie the NBA series at 1-1, but Boston Celtics fans were furious after enigmatic forward Draymond Green managed to avoid being thrown out.
On the back of a lights out shooting performance in the third quarter, capped by a Jordan Poole buzzer-beater from just in front of half court, the Warriors claimed a 107-88 win as the series heads to Boston.
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Green was at the centre of controversy early in the game when he picked up a technical foul for some excessive backchat to the referees.
Known for playing on something of a knife's edge, Green's physical play and constant trash talk had proved irritating for the Celtics, but never more so than mid-way through the second quarter.
Green fouled Celtics wing Jaylen Brown on a three point shot, but the Warriors star's legs landed on Brown's head and shoulders, much to his dismay.
The pair got up and had to be quickly separated by teammates and officials before it was eventually determined that there would only be a common foul on the play.
Fans were unhappy that Green got leeway from the officials for an incident many, including NBA commentator Jeff van Gundy, would ordinarily warrant a double technical.
While some argued it was better for referees to use discretion and only throw a player out for an offence that is worthy of it, others felt boundaries were being pushed too far.
Apparently the key to Draymond Green's success is to pick up a tech early in the game because the officials are gonna let him do damn near whatever he wants to avoid giving him a second tech. Either the rules are a thing or they're not.
— Peter Edmiston (@peteredmiston) June 6, 2022
Somebody explain to me why Draymond Green gets to play by his own rules? Why are the officials so invested in not ejecting him for what should have been an obvious second technical foul? #Celtics
— Peter Stringer (@peterstringer) June 6, 2022
This should absolutely be a double-tech, but it won't be because Draymond Green with one tech is invincible.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) June 6, 2022
Draymond Green probably won't get one since he has a tech already but he deserves a tech for that.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) June 6, 2022
Draymond Green controlled this game. Stats won’t tell that whole story. But he emotionally controlled the entire Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
— Ros Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) June 6, 2022
Draymond Green gets to play with 12 fouls and six technicals every game.
— Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) June 6, 2022
Green finished with nine points, five rebounds and seven assists as the Warriors bounced back from Friday's shock loss in game one.
Steph Curry dominated for the Warriors with 29 points, while Boston's Jayson Tatum had 28 of his own after scoring just 13 in the game one victory.
Warriors level NBA Finals with commanding game two performance
The first half was a tight and physical arm-wrestle interlaced with scoring outbursts from both teams, but it was the third quarter when the Warriors struck.
Led by Curry and Poole, the Warriors embarked on a 38-14 third quarter that put them in a commanding position heading into the fourth.
Poole capped a 19-2 run over the final 4:32 of the third quarter with a buzzer-beating heave near midcourt to give the Warriors a 23-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
He was only 1-of-5 with a 3-pointer at halftime with the Warriors holding a slim two-point lead, but finished with 17 points and five triples.
The Celtics came out with a punch, as Tatum and Jaylen Brown led a two-pronged attack in the first half. Tatum, who was held to 12 points in Game 1, scored 21 in the first half Sunday.
The last Celtics player to score more than 20 points in a half was Ray Allen in 2010.
Turnovers hurt the Celtics throughout the game as they committed 18. Players outside of Tatum and Brown also struggled after a standout Game 1.
Marcus Smart, Al Horford and Robert Williams each scored two points. Derrick White had 12 off the bench.
Both teams shot 40.5% from beyond the arc, but the Celtics’ 2-point shooting hurt them (34.9%).
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