Tuesday's game between the Timberwolves and Warriors was proof of the adage that every night in the NBA, one can see something new.
Before a single point had been scored, Minnesota forward Jaden McDaniels and Golden State guard Klay Thompson were tussling. Seemingly out of nowhere in response, Warriors forward Draymond Green placed Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold.
McDaniels, Thompson and Green were all sent packing, which made Minnesota and Golden State’s matchup historic: it was the first time since the 1976 ABA-NBA merger, per OptaSTATS, that three starters were ejected from a game before either team had scored a point.
Tonight's Timberwolves-Warriors game is the only game since the NBA-ABA merger to have 3 different starters ejected before either team had scored a point.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) November 15, 2023
The only combatant—if he can truly be called that—left over from the tussle was Gobert, who scored nine points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Timberwolves’ 104–101 win.
With Green said to be likely to incur a suspension, it seems likely that Minnesota's triumph will have consequences beyond being a humorous piece of trivia going forward.
