Despite recording a double-double with 10 rebounds and 10 assists along with seven points, two blocks and a steal against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, Draymond Green’s decision in the final seconds of the contest is making headlines.
With DeMar DeRozan hitting a pair of free-throws after a Steph Curry triple, the Golden State Warriors were down by three points with 8.7 seconds remaining.
After catching the inbound pass from Damion Lee, Green quickly launched a deep heave near the half-court logo that rattled off the backboard. Green believed the Spurs would immediately foul him to eliminate the chance of a game-tying 3-pointer. Instead, Derrick White didn’t foul, giving the ball back to San Antonio on Green’s errant miss. DeRozan hit another pair of free throws on the next possession to secure the victory for the Spurs, 105-100.
Via @anthonyVslater on Twitter:
One of the Warriors’ worst losses of the season ends in a blunder. Draymond Green, down three, thought Spurs were coming to foul him. They didn’t and he chucked a 40-footer off the backboard with five seconds left. pic.twitter.com/E97E2E4SGG
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 9, 2021
In a postgame press conference with reporters, Green explained that he believed the Spurs would foul, calling his shot, “the smartest dumb play in history.”
I felt like that was the smartest dumb play in history. I know most people won’t see that, put two and two together of what’s actually going on there. Very smart play that ended up being dumb as hell.
Via @957thegame on Twitter:
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) February 9, 2021
With Golden State slated to return to San Antonio on Tuesday for the second leg of a road back-to-back, Green won’t have to wait much time for the opportunity to erase the memory of his late-game blunder. With James Wiseman and Kevon Looney dealing with injuries, the Warriors will need the former Defensive Player of the Years to bounce back quickly.
