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Draymond Green Accepts Blame For Error That Sent Warriors To The Play-In Instead Of Playoffs
Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

Draymond Green Accepts Blame For Error That Sent Warriors To The Play-In Instead Of Playoffs

Originally posted on Fadeaway World
By Ishaan Bhattacharya  |  Last updated Apr 14, 2025 12:07 AM ET

The Golden State Warriors fell to a heartbreaking 119-124 loss in OT to the Los Angeles Clippers, ensuring the Warriors can't seal direct qualification into the NBA Playoffs. The franchise now has to win a Play-In Game to secure their Playoff seed, which would be a majorly disappointing outcome for one of the hottest teams in the NBA, losing back-to-back end-season games to blow their seeding.

The Warriors could've won this game if Draymond Green scored on a wide-open layup, which he somehow airballed. He took accountability for the loss and his mistake, but he also had to mention a teammate who couldn't deliver the win.

Draymond Green: "I completely smoked a layup. And Buddy missed a shot." 

Reporter: "Was it the shot that you guys wanted?" 

Draymond Green: "Yes. That was the play that was drawn up, we got the look, [Buddy] just missed it."

The clip is pretty hilarious, as Green completely blows the layup while having an open look. It would've tied the game up with enough time for two more possessions on the clock for a final result. Unfortunately, this miss and the ensuing Clippers' points guaranteed Golden State couldn't pull this off.

Green ended the night with 14 points (5-9 FG), three rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks. The Warriors were led by Stephen Curry's 36 points (10-20 FG) and Jimmy Butler's 30 points (12-20 FG). Curry also had six assists, while Butler had nine. Brandin Podziemski was the fourth and final player to score in double digits with 19 points (7-11 FG) and seven rebounds.

The Clippers were simply better, led by James Harden's double-double with 39 points (13-23 FG) and 10 assists. Kawhi Leonard put up 33 points (13-20 FG) with six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Ivica Zubac put up 22 points (11-16 FG) and 17 rebounds, as Kris Dunn (4-4 FG) and Norman Powell (4-13 FG) both scored 11 points in the No. 5-seed sealing win.

Losing this one will sting the Warriors, with Draymond himself placing a lot of importance on this win before the game started.

Draymond Green Not Worried About Fatigue Because Of The Play-In Tournament

One of the biggest advantages to directly qualifying as a top-six seed is playing fewer games and awaiting your Playoff opponent after a few days' break. The Warriors won't get that, but Draymond doesn't care.

“We'll be fine. We're not playing back-to-backs or anything. We’re not senior citizens, we're high-level basketball players. Even if we played tomorrow, we'll be alright, we trained all year for this. No disrespect to our senior citizens; we love our senior citizens."

Green is averaging 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game this season. His numbers are never as important as his on-court impact, and as long as he can deliver on that as their number 1 defender, he'll be fine.

The Warriors will face the Memphis Grizzlies in the 7-8 Play-In matchup. If the Warriors win, they advance to the No. 7 seed and face the Houston Rockets. 

If they lose, they'll face the winner of the Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks 9-10 Play-In Game. If they beat the winner of SAC-DAL, they advance to the No. 8 seed and face the league-best OKC Thunder in the first round of the Playoffs. 

The Warriors have a 0-3 record in the Play-In, going from the 7-8 game to out of the Playoffs in 2021 before losing the 9-10 Play-In game last season.

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

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