SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson and forward Draymond Green and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaden McDaniels were ejected from their in-season tournament game Tuesday night after getting involved in a fight less than two minutes into the game.
Just 100 seconds into the contest, McDaniels and Thompson got tied up with one another in transition, as Thompson held McDaniels’ jersey while he waited for a long rebound. McDaniels grabbed Thompson back, and both refused to let go as they moved down the court.
They began to swing each other around and push, resulting in McDaniels ripping Thompson’s jersey and Thompson swinging his arm at McDaniels.
As other players rushed toward Thompson and McDaniels, Green swung his arm around Minnesota center Rudy Gobert‘s neck and put him in a headlock. Coaches forced Green off Gobert as others tried to break up McDaniels and Thompson.
After a review, McDaniels and Thompson were assessed two technical fouls each and Green was given a flagrant foul 2. This is the first game in the past 25 seasons in which multiple players were ejected before either team scored, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
This also is Green’s second ejection of the season after he was tossed when he picked up two technical fouls against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.