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NBA suspends Green for Game 5

 
The Warriors’ Draymond Green, right, and the Cavaliers’ LeBron James jaw at each other as Channing Frye intervenes.
The Warriors’ Draymond Green, right, and the Cavaliers’ LeBron James jaw at each other as Channing Frye intervenes.
Published June 13, 2016

OAKLAND, Calif. — Warriors forward Draymond Green was suspended for tonight's Game 5 of the NBA Finals — a potential championship-clinching contest — after the league retroactively assessed him a flagrant foul for swiping his hand to the groin of LeBron James.

The league reviewed the contact Green made in the fourth quarter of Game 4 against the Cavaliers and deemed it "unnecessary" and "retaliatory," leading to the Flagrant Foul 1.

"There's no way you can say this is an acceptable act," NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe said. "You have to do what you think is right for the play, and unfortunately Draymond put himself in this position."

Green was automatically suspended for one game because he accumulated four flagrant foul points over the course of the playoffs. He had retroactively been assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 for kicking the Thunder's Steven Adams in the groin and a Flagrant Foul 1 for taking down the Rockets' Michael Beasley.

"The cumulative points system is designed to deter flagrant fouls in our game," VanDeWeghe said in a statement. "While Draymond Green's actions in Game 4 do not merit a suspension as a standalone act, the number of flagrant points he has earned triggers a suspension for Game 5."

Green did not address the media after practice, but his team spoke for him.

"He's not happy, no," Stephen Curry said. "Anybody in that situation, you can't expect them to be okay with the decision."

"We know it's going to kill him not being out there," Klay Thompson said.

The Warriors tried to keep a lid on their emotions, some faring better than others.

Coach Steve Kerr declined to comment on the ruling, saying: "It's irrelevant what any of us think. We just have to accept the decision and move on."

Andrew Bogut, when asked if the Cavs might have lobbied for suspension, said: "You'd have to ask them, but highly likely."

Thompson took a swipe at James, saying, "I guess his feelings just got hurt. … I'm just kind of shocked some guys take it so personal. It's a man's league."

James was also assessed a technical foul for his role in the altercation, which included a physical taunt.

After Green had gotten tangled up with James and fallen, the Cavaliers forward walked over him. Green flung his arm toward James for the low blow.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: At Magic Johnson's request, the Lakers have eliminated his honorary title of vice president and removed his name from the staff directory. The team said the change was made to clarify confusion about the Hall of Famer's involvement with the club. … The Clippers are moving assistant coach Lawrence Frank into a front office position to assist Doc Rivers, the team's coach and president of basketball operations, with his decision-making responsibilities.