Just when it appeared the Golden State Warriors were getting their All-Stars back, one of them was forced to exit early due not to an injury, but an ejection.
During Thursday night’s 116-107 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Kevin Durant received two consecutive technical fouls after vehemently arguing a non-call on the previous possession. The star forward felt he had been fouled on a drive to the rim.
Though the Warriors came up with the offensive rebound, Durant ignored the ensuing play in order to confront official Tre Maddox. He whistled Durant for a technical foul, then gave him another and tossed him with 2.4 seconds left in the first half.
After the game, Durant explained why he got tossed.
”I got fouled, I told him how I felt about it, he kicked me out. That simple,” Durant said.
Crew chief Bill Kennedy confirmed to a pool reporter that both technicals were the result of vulgarity by Durant.
The Warriors remain firmly in the No. 2 slot in the West and coach Steve Kerr refused to make too much out of Durant’s ejection.
”I think Kevin just had a moment. He was frustrated so he snapped. It happens,” Kerr said.
The technical fouls were Durant’s 13th and 14th of the season, respectively. The occasion also marked his fifth ejection of the season. He left the game after logging 10 points, six assists and three rebounds in 17 minutes.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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