A heated confrontation between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors resulted in three players being ejected less than two minutes into their game on Monday night. The incident occurred after Warriors forward Draymond Green fouled Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns hard on a layup attempt. Towns took exception to the contact and shoved Green, who retaliated by grabbing Towns’ jersey and pulling him down. Several players from both teams rushed to intervene, including Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Timberwolves rookie Jaden McDaniels. The referees had to separate the players and review the video to determine the penalties.
Who got ejected?
After a lengthy deliberation, the referees decided to eject Green, Thompson, and McDaniels for their roles in the scuffle. Green received his second technical foul of the game, as he had already been assessed one in the first quarter for arguing with the officials. Thompson and McDaniels were both given double technical fouls for escalating the situation. Thompson, who was making his return from a two-year absence due to injuries, had scored 10 points in 11 minutes before being tossed. McDaniels, who had started in place of the injured Anthony Edwards, had four points and two rebounds in eight minutes.
How did the teams react?
The ejections left both teams shorthanded and frustrated. The Timberwolves, who were already missing their leading scorer and rookie of the year candidate Edwards, had to rely on their bench players to fill the void. The Warriors, who were playing without their superstar Stephen Curry due to a groin injury, had to adjust their rotation and find other scoring options. The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than nine points. The Timberwolves eventually prevailed 112-108, snapping a four-game losing streak and handing the Warriors their third straight defeat.
What did the coaches and players say?
After the game, both coaches and players expressed their opinions on the incident and the ejections. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said he was proud of his team for standing up for each other and playing with passion. He also praised Towns for his leadership and performance, as he finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. Towns said he was not trying to start a fight, but he felt he had to protect himself and his teammates. He also said he had no hard feelings towards Green, whom he called a great competitor and a future Hall of Famer.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he was disappointed with the ejections, especially for Thompson, who had waited so long to play again. He also said he did not agree with the referees’ decision to give Green a technical foul for the initial foul on Towns, which he thought was a clean play. Green said he was surprised by the ejection, as he did not think he did anything wrong. He also said he had no problem with Towns, whom he called a talented player and a good friend. Thompson said he was frustrated by the ejection, as he felt he was only trying to defend his teammate. He also said he was happy to be back on the court, despite the loss.
What are the implications?
The brawl and the ejections could have some implications for both teams going forward. The Timberwolves, who improved to 6-9 with the win, could face some disciplinary action from the league for their involvement in the altercation. They could also be without McDaniels for their next game, as he could face a suspension for his role in the scuffle. The Warriors, who dropped to 9-7 with the loss, could also face some fines and suspensions for their actions. They could also be without Green and Thompson for their next game, as they could be subject to the league’s concussion protocol for their head contact.
