NBA PLAYOFFS Draymond stomps on Sabonis as Kings stun Warriors in Game 2

Draymond Green was ejected for stepping on Sabonis as the Warriors lose game 2 to the Kings.

The Sacramento Kings recorded a 114-106 victory against the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of a first-round Western Conference NBA playoff fixture played on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

Point guard De'Aaron Fox came up clutch as the Kings defeated the Warriors to take Game 1.

To start Game 2, the Warriors were able to stifle the Kings' offense to take a six-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Kings were red-hot from deep to put up 41 points in the second quarter overturning the Warriors' advantage to take a six-point lead to the halftime break.

The Kings and Warriors traded buckets in the third quarter but the home side increased their advantage to eight.

There were no nerves from the Kings in closing time as they matched the Warriors answering every run they made.

In their second playoff game after a 16-year playoff drought, the Kings held on for an eight-point victory and took a 2-0 lead in the California derby series.

Fox and Sabonis step up for Kings

The Kings duo of guard De'Aaron Fox and big man Domantas Sabonis showed out in game 2.

Fox did not put up the crazy numbers he did in game one but was able to be an impact player to lead the Kings' offense in game two.

Fox put up 24 points, five rebounds, nine assists, four steals, and one block.

He made 10 of his 23 shots, was two of 10 from three-point range, and a perfect two from the free throw line in 36 minutes of action.

Although the Warriors contained Fox from midrange by limiting him to taking deep shots, he was able to make it late in the clutch.  

Kings big man Sabonis bounced back from his struggles in Game 1. He put up 24 points, nine rebounds, and four assists in 40 minutes of action.

Sabonis was efficient making eight of 12 shots from the field and also eight of 12 from the free throw line.

Draymond Green stomps on Sabonis

The high point in the game was at the midway point of the fourth quarter. Fighting for a rebound, Domantas Sabonis and Draymond Green were involved in an altercation.

The Warriors grabbed the rebound and were pushing forward as Sabonis held on Green by his leg.

Green retaliated by stomping Sabonis on the chest which led to the game being stopped and players separated to their respective corners.

Referee Zach Zarber witnessed the incident and after a review, Green was ejected with a flagrant two and Sabonis was assessed with a technical foul.

Sabonis continued in the game and played a pivotal role as the Kings held on to win.

At the end of the game, the Kings announced that Sabonis is undergoing X-rays on his ribs/lungs following the stomp by Green.

Green stepped up for his post-game press conference and told the media that the Kings grabbed his leg in Game 1 and repeated it in Game 2.

He said, "My leg got grabbed. Second time in two nights. Referees just watch it.

"I gotta land my foot somewhere and I'm not the most flexible person. I can only step so far I'm pulling my leg away so it is what it is.

"So either you're gonna stop it, John Goble was looking at Monk hold my leg the last game and he just let it go.

"Zach clearly was watching my leg get held this game and let it go so I guess ankle grabbing is okay."

The Warriors have not been down 0-2 during the Steve Kerr era and now must win four of a possible five to advance to the next round.

Game three is pivotal for the Warriors at home against the Kings scheduled for Friday, April 21, 2023.

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