With Stephen Curry sidelined due to a quad contusion, the Golden State Warriors needed someone to step into the spotlight Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. That responsibility largely fell on Draymond Green - the team’s defensive anchor and emotional heartbeat - and Jimmy Butler, who continues to find his footing in a Warriors uniform.
Early on, though, it was all Thunder.
Oklahoma City came out firing, building a commanding 63-44 lead by halftime at Chase Center. The Warriors looked flat, outpaced, and out of sync without their superstar floor general. But if there’s one thing Golden State has shown time and again, it’s that they’re never out of a game - especially at home.
The third quarter saw the Warriors come alive. They tightened up defensively, started stringing together stops, and found a rhythm offensively.
Draymond Green was at the center of that resurgence. He wasn’t just defending - he was orchestrating.
Calling out coverages, directing traffic, setting hard screens, and pushing the pace in transition. It was vintage Draymond - the version of him that’s helped Golden State hang four banners in the last decade.
But just as the Warriors started to chip away at the deficit, Green picked up his fifth foul with five minutes to go in the third. Steve Kerr had no choice but to pull him. And that changed everything.
Green’s presence isn’t just about stats - it’s about tone. He’s the communicator, the enforcer, the guy who gets everyone locked in.
When he’s off the floor, that edge can fade. And with Curry already unavailable and Butler exiting the game with a knee issue, the Warriors were suddenly without their three most vocal leaders.
For Green, foul trouble is nothing new. His aggressive, physical style - the very thing that’s made him one of the league’s most feared defenders - often puts him in the crosshairs of officials.
And while some might argue that his reputation precedes him when it comes to whistle-happy nights, Green has never shied away from who he is. That edge has earned him four rings, nine All-Defensive selections, and a Defensive Player of the Year award.
He’s not about to change now.
The Warriors, chasing their third win in four games, briefly grabbed the lead midway through the fourth. It was a gutsy push, especially given the circumstances. But the Thunder responded quickly, reclaiming the advantage as the clock ticked under two minutes.
With the game hanging in the balance, Golden State found itself in familiar territory - short-handed, scrapping, and leaning on the identity that’s defined this dynasty: grit, defense, and a belief that no game is out of reach.
We’ll see if that’s enough to carry them through the final moments.