The Golden State Warriors had struggled all season in these situations, boasting an 8-33 record when trailing heading into the fourth quarter. So when they found themselves down 89-83 after three quarters of Wednesday’s play-in tournament clash against the LA Clippers, most people figured the game was slipping away.
But Golden State’s veterans had other plans. Steph Curry, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford kept the offense alive, constantly knocking down big buckets. On the other end, though, it was Draymond Green who completely changed the game.
Green’s efforts on the defensive end made life miserable for the Clippers in the closing moments. With just 49 seconds left, Green picked Bennedict Mathurin’s pocket, leading to an and-one finish from Brandin Podziemski that pushed the Warriors ahead by five.
On the very next possession, Green stayed glued to Kawhi Leonard, refused to give him any space, and forced another turnover. That sequence pretty much sealed the win and quickly went viral.
Fans wasted no time showing love for Green’s defensive masterclass.
“draymond has owned kawhi lmfao,” @justinnkellyyy said.
“Draymond is really schooling them defensively,” @streetcated wrote.
“Idc what anyone says draymond green is a top 3 defender of all time,” @rcw07619 said.
“He was the iron dome against Kawhi tonight,” @ar_yorh wrote.
“DRAYMOND GREEN IS THIS GENERATION’S GREATEST DEFENDER IDC,” @JoeVirayNBA wrote.
“We can talk about Draymond’s antics and offensive contributions, but this man knows how to win,” @JGusto21 said.
Eventually, Draymond Green finished with four steals and controlled the tempo on defense all night. He also led the team with nine assists, adding seven points and six rebounds, helping the Warriors pull off a 126-121 comeback win and set up a clash with the Phoenix Suns for a playoff spot.
Steph Curry lauds Draymond Green for game-winning defensive plays
Steph Curry couldn’t hide his admiration for Draymond Green after the game, especially for the impact Green had on defense. Even after years of playing together, Curry still sounded impressed by how much Green can take over a game with his defensive capabilities.
“I don’t know what to say about Draymond,” Curry said in the postgame interview. “The defense on Kawhi all night. Two big steals. That’s why I love this team.”
Steph Curry himself led the way offensively, putting up 35 points while shooting 52.2% from the field in just his fifth game back after being out for nearly two months.
Read More: “Where Is The Defense?”: Fans React as Kawhi Leonard Takes On 4 Warriors And Makes Two-Handed Jam
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