The Golden State Warriors saw their season come to an end Friday night, falling 111-96 to the Phoenix Suns in the NBA play-in tournament. While the loss officially sent Golden State into the offseason, much of the postgame conversation centered on Draymond Green, who exited early after a heated sequence with Devin Booker.
Green had already fouled out with just over a minute remaining before tensions escalated. During a dead ball, both players exchanged words and picked up technical fouls. Moments later, referee Scott Foster ejected both after the back-and-forth continued, NBC reports. Green responded by mimicking the ejection call and engaging the Phoenix crowd on his way to the locker room, adding another fiery chapter to his postseason resume.
Despite the frustration, Green shifted his tone after the game. He credited Phoenix for its performance and pushed back on narratives surrounding the team’s roster, including speculation about Kevin Durant.
Draymond Green Gives Suns Credit
Green made it clear that Phoenix earned the win and deserved recognition for how it navigated the season.
“They’re about to rebuild, they’re getting rid of Kevin, Brad Beal’s gone… give Devin Booker credit,” Green said. “Everybody’s like, ‘yo he’s chasing money’… and he put his head down and led a group.”
He also pointed to Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green as tone-setters, emphasizing how their presence shaped the team’s identity. Green suggested injuries played a role in Phoenix landing in the play-in, noting that the group likely would have secured a higher seed with better availability.
Jalen Green proved that point on the court. He delivered a dominant outing with 36 points on efficient shooting, adding rebounds, assists, and defensive plays that swung momentum. Booker, meanwhile, controlled the game in other ways, finishing with 20 points, eight assists, and a +25 rating.
For Golden State, Stephen Curry struggled to find rhythm. He finished with 16 points on 4-for-16 shooting, unable to replicate his usual late-game impact, Golden State of Mind reports.
Draymond Green Defends Kevin Durant
As discussions around Durant’s time in Phoenix intensified, Green took a firm stance against placing blame on the star forward.
“Let’s not put this all on Kevin like Kevin’s not great, cause Kevin is great and there will be no Kevin slander on my watch,” Green said. “Kevin’s team wasn’t fighting to get in. Kevin is doing just fine.”
Green framed Durant’s departure as a move that ultimately helped both sides. “I think when you look at the situation, I think it benefited for both teams for Kevin to leave here,” he added. “I think it benefited Houston and I think it benefited the Suns.”
His comments directly addressed a growing narrative that Durant’s exit played a role in Phoenix’s earlier struggles. Instead, Green pointed to the broader context, highlighting roster changes and team dynamics rather than placing responsibility on one player.
The night itself reflected that complexity. Green finished with five points, five turnovers, and six fouls before his ejection, while the Warriors closed the season with questions about their next direction.
Still, Green’s message stood out. Even after a tense loss and early exit, he used the moment to defend a longtime peer and redirect the conversation toward team success rather than individual blame.
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