The Golden State Warriors dropped their second consecutive game in the conference semifinals after a narrow 97-102 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night. Even before the game ended, the spotlight quickly turned to Draymond Green for another costly night plagued by fouls and inefficiency.
Green committed six fouls, including a critical one in the game’s final minutes that may have sealed Golden State’s fate. With 4:38 left in the fourth quarter and the Warriors trailing by just two points, Green fouled Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels on a drive to the basket. It was his sixth personal foul, sending him to the bench for the remainder of the game.
Green’s frustration was evident as the referees made the call. He appeared visibly upset as he knew the impact his absence would have during the most crucial stretch of the game.
Draymond Green has fouled out with 4:38 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Warriors-Timberwolves Game 3 matchup 👀pic.twitter.com/3L2LFdHo4E
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 11, 2025
According to reports, this marked the 13th time Green has fouled out in a postseason game. Surprisingly, it’s the most among all active players since he entered the league in 2012, and no player is even close to him.
Brian Windhorst Calls Out Draymond Green’s “Leeway” from Referees
Before Game 3 of the Warriors’ series against the Timberwolves, ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst reignited a long-running debate involving Green’s relationship with NBA officiating. Windhorst disclosed that there are growing murmurs across the league about how referees handle Green’s physical and often confrontational style of play.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
“People around the NBA have complained that Draymond Green gets away with too many flagrant fouls & gets ‘leeway’ from the referees so he is not ejected or fouled out,” Windhorst said.
Offensively, Green was nearly invisible on the night. He finished with just two points, two rebounds, four assists, two steals, and five turnovers while shooting 1-of-4 from the field. His lone field goal came early, and he failed to convert from three or get to the free-throw line.
