Steph Curry looked defeated after Draymond Green was ejected less than four minutes into the Warriors’ win against the Magic on Wednesday.
Green received two technicals for yelling at referee Ray Acosta, which resulted in an automatic ejection for the veteran big man, and Curry appeared emotional while pulling his jersey over his face.
Green lost his cool after Acosta called a foul on Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins — and Magic forward Paolo Banchero got the and-1 to tie the game 6-6.
Curry was standing next to Green while he was chirping at the official and seemed upset while on the court after Green got tossed.
Some fans thought Curry appeared to wipe tears from his eyes at one point.
The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer just lost his four-time champion center on the second night of a back-to-back — Golden State beat the Heat, 113-92, on the road Tuesday — as the Warriors fight for a spot in the play-in tournament.
The Warriors were also without forward Jonathan Kuminga due to left knee soreness.
Prior to his ejection, cameras captured Green continuously following Acosta on the court while yelling at him.
Crew chief Mitchell Ervin called it a “prolonged diatribe” with “egregious profane language” in the pool report, according to The Athletic.
It’s unclear what was exactly said as Green did not speak to reporters after the game.
It would make sense if Curry was frustrated because the Warriors are in a desperate position.
Green’s latest ejection came after he missed 16 games this season due to an indefinite suspension by the NBA for hitting Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic in the face on Dec. 12.
The league said Green’s “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts” was considered when determining the suspension.
Getty Images
Separately, Green was suspended after stepping on the chest of Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis in the 2023 playoffs.
Green’s latest ejection also came after Warriors coach Steve Kerr said they can’t rely on Curry to play excessive minutes.
“He deserved it,” Kerr said of the incident.
Green was seen hugging Curry in the locker room after the game and posted about the Warriors’ win on social media.
“We don’t want to give ourselves self-inflicted wounds,” Curry said after the game. “We need him ‘so whatever it takes to keep him on the floor and be available.”
Taking to his X account Thursday, Green wrote: “Great DUB!! Appreciate my dawgs holding it down! On to the next one! BOUNCE BACK!”
Curry and All-Star forward Andrew Wiggins led Golden State to a 101-93 win against the Magic at Orlando’s Kia Center Wednesday night.
Curry finished with 17 points, 10 assists and four rebounds, while Wiggins led the Warriors in scoring with 23 points on the night.
Every win counts at this point amid a turbulent season for the Warriors (38-34), who are just two years removed from a championship.
The Warriors are vying to hold onto the 10th seed as the young but mighty Houston Rockets sit close behind in the No. 9 spot.
