The Kings thought All-Star center Domantas Sabonis had avoided injury following his encounter with Draymond Green in Monday’s playoff win over the Golden State Warriors, but further testing showed that was not the case.
The team released a medical update late Tuesday night revealing that Sabonis suffered a bruised sternum in the fourth quarter of a 114-106 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Sabonis will be listed as questionable for Game 3 on Thursday at Chase Center in San Francisco.
That announcement came about an hour after the NBA announced Green had been suspended one game without pay for stomping on Sabonis in the fourth quarter of Game 2. Green will serve his suspension Thursday when the Warriors play host to the Kings in Game 3 of their best-of-seven first-round playoff series.
The NBA said Green’s suspension was “based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.”
The Kings hold a 2-0 series lead after winning the first two games in Sacramento. Teams that go up 2-0 in a best-of-seven series are 222-21 all-time in the NBA playoffs. Teams that go up 3-0 are 108-0.
The incident between Green and Sabonis occurred with 7:03 to play in the fourth quarter of Monday’s game. Sabonis fell to the floor and grabbed Green’s right foot. Green responded by stomping on Sabonis with a size-15 foot to the midsection.
While officials reviewed the play, Green carried on during a wild outburst, climbing on the Golden State bench, grabbing his crotch and inciting the Sacramento crowd, all while NBA commissioner Adam Silver watched from the fifth row.
Sabonis was issued a technical foul for grabbing Green’s foot. Green was given a Flagrant 2 foul for stomping on Sabonis, resulting in an automatic ejection.
Sabonis said he trying to protect himself after falling at Green’s feet. Green said “my leg got grabbed” and “I’ve got to land my foot somewhere.”
A league source told The Sacramento Bee X-rays taken Monday night were negative, but additional testing Tuesday showed a sternum contusion. Sabonis is no stranger to playing through injuries. He has played most of the season with an avulsion fracture to his right thumb.
Sabonis averaged 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists this season while making his third appearance in the NBA All-Star Game. He had 12 points and 16 rebounds in Game 1 against the Warriors before posting 24 points, nine rebounds and four assists in Game 2.
