Draymond Green’s Game 3 was ugly on paper and even uglier on the court. Six fouls. Two points. Five turnovers. And just two rebounds. Still, the numbers tell only half the story. The Golden State Warriors fell 97-102 to the visiting Wolves in a gritty battle. It was messy. It was frustrating. But somehow, it still showed just how much he matters. When he fouled out, the Warriors lost their spark almost instantaneously. And the game slipped right through their fingers.
The Warriors were up 3 when Green picked up his fourth foul. It was a head-scratcher. Kerr even challenged it. By the time the 35-year-old fouled out with 4 minutes 38 seconds left, they were down 2. That whistle led to 2 free throws from Jaden McDaniels. He made both, and the Dubs lost by 5. And yes, the frustration lingered. Officials handed Draymond his fifth foul after reviewing a play he barely touched. The sixth? Far too soft for a moment that big.
Now, on the Warrior Plus Minus podcast, hosts Anthony Slater, Tim Kawakami, and Marcus Thompson shared their observations after Draymond Green’s fourth foul. “This team is angry about those fouls on Draymond and thinks that they turned the game, and thinks that they’ve got something that they’re going to be able to work with against whatever in the next game,” they noted. “I don’t know if that means they’re going to win it, but I’m saying they feel, and they’re saying they feel very good about it.”
Mar 22, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) argues a call against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Moreover, the Warriors are fired up; they believe those calls on Green flipped the game. Still, there’s a strange sense of calm in their frustration. They feel like they’ve cracked something. And while no one’s promising a win, the confidence is loud. Meanwhile, Slater added, “As far as the Draymond fouls go, the fourth one was a charge or it was a block — it was called a block — that they challenged. Felt good about the challenge. They felt good about the challenge.”
The 2017 DPOY’s fourth foul could’ve gone either way- Charge or block. But the refs called it a block, and Steve Kerr challenged it without blinking. The Warriors stood by that call as they believed it was the right fight to pick. This brings us to Scott Foster, who was officiating the game vs. the Wolves on Saturday. “That dude turned a jump ball into like this high drama. He’s like adjusting people and moving around… Scott Foster did not draw the ire of the Warriors, though.”
Scott Foster turned a simple jump ball into a whole production, adjusting players like he was directing a play. The drama was palpable. But interestingly, he didn’t spark the Warriors’ frustration this time. Instead, they had other moments to blame. Moreover, Draymond Green felt comfortable in the way he was communicating with the official, which again is a rare sight in the NBA. Now, the odd situation with the Dubs could help the team with some major tweaks; something Steve Kerr hadn’t experimented with before could become the key for Game 4.
Steve Kerr talks about unique combinations amidst Draymond Green’s night to forget
Speaking to the media after losing the game on the home turf, the Warriors’ head coach, Steve Kerr, talked about a fresh combination he had never used before. The 59-year-old legend once believed that Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga wouldn’t be a good pair and that they wouldn’t be able to play together. But after a night of pure brilliance from both stars, those doubts were flung out the window. The chemistry between the small forward and the superstar power forward was everything the Golden State Warriors were looking for. They chipped in a combined 63-point game.
So, Coach Kerr said, “They played great. We had combinations out there that probably hadn’t been out there the entire season—starting Trayce and playing the groups together that we did. But I think we found some good combinations.” Trayce Jackson-Davis made it to the starting five while Stephen Curry sat in his grey outfit on the sidelines, hoping his boys would win. But alas!
Apr 15, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts after a play against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Thus, Game 3 was chaos in a Warriors jersey, and Draymond Green stood right in the eye of the storm. The fouls hurt, the loss stung, yet something clicked. His passion lit a fire, and the team found unexpected rhythm in the chaos. New combos worked, doubts faded, and confidence quietly returned. Game 4 just might be their plot twist—Draymond could lead the charge in Steph’s absence.
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