Grizzlies fans didn’t give Draymond Green a warm welcome when he checked into Monday’s game.
via: CNN
Green was booed in his return to the court as his team fell to a 116-107 defeat against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.
Green was suspended indefinitely after striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurki? in the face during a game on December 12, with the suspension being partly “attributed to Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts,” according to an NBA statement.
His suspension was lifted by the NBA earlier this month though Green spent time working on his conditioning and game fitness before returning on Monday.
Green came off the bench against the Grizzlies and received jeers from the Memphis crowd when he checked into the game in the first quarter.
However, despite the former defensive player of the year making his comeback, the Warriors suffered a tough defeat against a Grizzlies squad that has been ravaged by injuries.
Draymond Green returns to boos in Memphis after missing the Warriors' last 16 games ?
(via @NBCSWarriors)
pic.twitter.com/NGzWcWkQO6— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 15, 2024
Memphis entered Monday night’s matchup missing seven players, including star point guard Ja Morant who recently went down with a season-ending shoulder injury, having only played nine games after returning from a 25-game suspension.
.@memgrizz status update:
Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr. are available tonight vs @warriors. https://t.co/nSCInQX9f5
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) January 15, 2024
The Grizzlies got the most out of their players when it mattered the most though, outscoring Golden State by 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Memphis also made 20 triples to the Warriors’ 10 in the game and benefitted from a massive disparity in free throw shooting; Golden State – which was additionally plagued by turnovers throughout – made nine of its 10 free throws while the Grizzlies went 32-for-40 from the stripe.
“We played very poorly defensively, but a lot of that had to do with our offense,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game. “Nineteen turnovers that turned into 30 points.”
The Grizzlies were led in scoring by second year forward Vince Williams who had 24 points and seven rebounds. Rookie forward GG Jackson had 23 points and six rebounds off the bench, while reigning defensive player of the year Jaren Jackson Jr. had 18 points, five rebounds and five assists.
