Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, right, and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, left, argue while being separated by Channing Frye (9) during the second half of Game 4 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Cleveland, Friday, June 10, 2016. The Warriors won 108-97. AP
OAKLAND, United States — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was issued a one-game suspension by the NBA on Sunday, sidelining him for the Monday’s potential title-clinching fifth game of the NBA Finals.
The defending champion Warriors seized a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with a 108-97 victory over Cleveland on Friday.
Green struck Cavaliers star LeBron James in the groin with 2:48 remaining in the fourth quarter after the two had tangled bodies and James stepped over Green as he tried to rise from the court.
After NBA officials reviewed the play on Saturday, they upgraded Green’s foul to a flagrant one, giving him a one-game ban for a fourth accumulated playoff flagrant foul that will be served Monday when the Warriors host Cleveland and try to complete back-to-back title runs.
Green had already accumulated flagrant fouls in the first round and semi-final round of the playoffs, most notably a kick to the groin of Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams, a New Zealanders, in the Western Conference finals.
Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA executive vice president of basketball operations, issued the suspension without pay.
He ruled Green made unnecessary contact with James with a retaliatory swipe of his hand to the groin.
“He stepped over me,” Green told the league’s television network. “There’s many routes you can take. Don’t step over me like that… I don’t care who you are. I’m not going to back down.”
Any additional foul by Green if the series goes to a sixth or seventh game would also bring a ban of one or two games depending on the severity of the violation.
“The cumulative points system is designed to deter flagrant fouls in our game,” said VanDeWeghe.
“While Draymond Green’s actions in game four do not merit a suspension as a stand alone act, the number of flagrant points he has earned triggers a suspension for game five.”
Green has averaged 15.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.9 blocked shots and 1.6 steals a game for the Warriors in the playoffs.
Also, Green guards James defensively and his absence Monday should make life easier for Cleveland’s superstar playmaker, who averages 31.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists in games when his team is facing elimination.
Asked about a possible ban for Green after the loss, James said, “I don’t know what should happen. It’s not my call. That’s the league office. They will take a look at it.”
Asked if he expected any action from league officials over the play, James said, “No.”
James, whose teams have won at least one road game in 25 consecutive playoff series, was assessed a technical foul by the NBA for his role in the altercation, which included a physical taunt.
In addition, Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue was fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating in his post-game comments, specifically saying how James should have gone to the free throw line more in the loss.
