Draymond Green pleaded his innocence for the stamping incident that led to his ejection from Monday's 114-106 loss to the Sacramento Kings, calling on referees to help him out.
Green was called for a flagrant-2 foul and subsequently ejected in the fourth quarter of the Game 2 loss in the Golden State Warriors’ playoffs first round loss after an altercation with Kings center Domantas Sabonis.
The Warriors big man stamped on Sabonis’ chest, after the latter fell to the ground and appeared to grab Green's leg as Golden State tried to launch a fast break following Stephen Curry's rebound from Malik Monk's missed two-point attempt.
Lithuanian center Sabonis was on the floor in pain for several minutes. While Green was ejected, Sabonis was called for a technical foul for the grab.
The Warriors All-Star claimed it was the second time in two games that he had been grabbed, citing a similar incident in Game 1 involving Monk and calling for more assistance from the officials.
"My leg got grabbed," Green told reporters. "Second time in two nights. Referees just watch it. I've got to land my foot somewhere.
"I'm not the most flexible person, so I'm not stretching that far. I could only step so far in pulling my leg away. It is what it is."
Green said the referees told him he had been ejected because he "stomped too hard", while he was not surprised Sabonis stayed down injured given the impact.
Sabonis refused to be drawn on the incident, nor whether there was any animosity between him and Green as a result.
"It's playoff basketball," Sabonis told NBA on TNT. "This is it, we're here to fight. Every time we step on the floor, we're going to give everything for our team-mates and the franchise.
"We're both fighting for the rebound. We fell on each other, stuff happens, it's basketball, we've got to move on, next play."