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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies star Dillon Brooks was suspended for one game with out pay by the NBA on Thursday for making “unnecessary and excessive contact” that resulted in a fractured elbow for Golden State’s Gary Payton II in Game 2 of the the Western Conference semifinals.
Brooks should sit out Saturday’s Game 3 with the best-of-seven collection shifting to San Francisco tied at one game apiece. Payton is sporting a brace and will probably be sidelined indefinitely, stated coach Steve Kerr, who has referred to as the play soiled.
Payton was injured within the first quarter of Golden State’s 106-101 loss Tuesday evening when Brooks hit him throughout the top and the guard fell awkwardly on his left arm after driving for a layup. Brooks obtained a Flagrant 2 foul and was ejected.
“It’s disappointing. It’s an unfortunate circumstance. Obviously, we’re going to honor the league’s decision, but you know it’s a tough play,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins stated in Memphis. “We obviously wish Gary Payton a speedy and healthy recovery. You don’t want to see anybody get hurt. It’s very unfortunate what happened there.”
The Warriors stated Payton additionally sustained ligament and muscle harm on the play that Kerr stated “broke the code” of NBA conduct. Payton underwent an MRI examination within the Bay Area on Wednesday and will probably be reevaluated in two weeks.
When requested in regards to the suspension, Kerr stated, “It doesn’t matter. Gary’s out. Gary’s out for the next, foreseeable future, for weeks, that’s the only thing that matters to us.”
“He’s crushed,” Kerr stated. “Six years toiling away within the league as I stated the opposite evening, within the highlight, taking part in within the playoffs, taking part in an enormous function, taking part in nicely. That’s all been taken away from him. We all really feel horrible for Gary. He deserves higher.”
Kerr stated the Warriors will proceed to play their bodily type with out taking that too far, as he feels Brooks did.
“Keep doing what we’re doing, just play hard, battle for every loose ball, battle for every rebound, compete every possession and don’t risk a guy’s career if he’s ahead of the play in transition, that’s our mantra,” Kerr stated.
Rookie Jonathan Kuminga may very well be referred to as upon to take on a larger function together with Kevon Looney off the bench within the efforts to defend Ja Morant after his 47-point efficiency in Game 2.
Jenkins disagreed the play was soiled.
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Asked if he objected to Kerr saying the play was soiled, Jenkins replied, “I said what I said.”
“The word physical and dirty has been thrown around. When I have literally talked to my guys about being physical, it’s about ‘Can we stop giving them 23 second-chance points a game?’” he said. “It has nothing to do with the play that happened in Game 2.”
The NBA additionally introduced Thursday that Warriors ahead Draymond Green was fined $25,000 for directing an obscene gesture on the Grizzlies followers. He flipped them off with each palms whereas going to the locker room to be examined for an harm within the first quarter Tuesday. Green’s proper eye, which required stitches after he took an elbow, remains to be swollen however he was in a position to follow absolutely Thursday.
Golden State ahead Andre Iguodala, out the final three playoff video games with a disc harm in his neck, will probably be evaluated once more in per week and is making regular progress, the staff stated.
AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker and AP freelance author Clay Bailey in Memphis contributed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This materials might not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.
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