Draymond Green accepted the challenge of defending Victor Wembanyama in the post, but it proved unsuccessful.
Green, officially listed at 6-foot-6, found himself matched up against the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama in a tightly contested battle. Aware of his height disadvantage, Green tried his best to secure optimal positioning.
The typically aggressive Green used his body against Wembanyama, but as the whistle sounded, the rising third-year player knew precisely what to do.
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Wembanyama spun, and the inbound pass became a perfectly executed alley-oop, culminating in a powerful slam. He emphatically dunked over Green, making sure Green was aware of the outcome.
Nearly everyone in San Antonio celebrated wildly, and Green and Wembanyama were separated to prevent further escalation.
Officials nullified the basket, ruling that Green had fouled the Spurs’ center before the shot. Green then committed his fifth foul moments later on the subsequent inbound, leaving the court while vocally protesting the call to the officials.
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“It’s not about proving anything to anyone. It’s simply that if someone addresses you in a certain manner, you need to respond accordingly,” Wembanyama stated after the game, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News.
Green, however, perceived some inconsistency.
“It’s encouraging to see him express emotion. I appreciate when players show emotion,” Green commented, according to Yahoo Sports. “I just hope that if I can yell in someone’s face and then a teammate can come grab me and nothing happens — because if I yell in someone’s face and grab someone, I get suspended indefinitely.”
Stephen Curry delivered a season-best performance, scoring 49 points on 9-for-17 shooting from beyond the arc, securing a 109-108 victory for the Warriors.
Wembanyama blocked Jimmy Butler’s layup attempt with just 33 seconds left, with the Spurs holding a 108-107 advantage. San Antonio failed to capitalize on the offensive end, as De’Aaron Fox missed a 17-foot jump shot with 12 seconds remaining.
Curry was fouled by Fox on the following possession and calmly made both free throws, putting the Warriors ahead by a single point. Fox then missed an 18-foot jumper as the clock expired.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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