Watch: The exact play where Draymond Green rolled his ankle during Bucks vs. Warriors
Draymond Green endured a brutal ankle injury during the Golden State Warriors' 125-116 OT win over the Milwaukee Bucks at home. Green rolled his right ankle after stepping on Jrue Holiday's foot with 8:30 left in the third quarter. Green ran out of bounds as the Dubs took a timeout to attend to a possible injury. Here's a clip of that possession (via Warriors on NBCS on Twitter):
Draymond went back to the locker room after rolling his right ankle https://t.co/sRFkHmTpSc
The former DPOY went limping to the locker room. Fortunately, Green returned to finish the game and help his team secure a much-needed win. The Warriors led 66-53 when Green went to the locker room. When he returned with 38 seconds left, the Bucks had cut that gap down to three points, trailing 75-78.
Draymond checks back in to a big ovation after an injury scare 🙌 https://t.co/nKmENSznGQ
Draymond Green didn't make a significant contribution for most of the fourth quarter until the last few minutes. He assisted two Steph Curry three-pointers in the final two minutes when the latter took over with the Dubs trailing by eight.
Curry scored 11 straight points as the Warriors leveled the 111-111. He blocked Jrue Holiday's shot with just over a second left when the scores were tied to send the game into overtime.
Steph Curry also scored nine of the Warriors' 14 points in overtime, helping the team end their three-game skid.
Golden State Warriors cannot afford an injury to Draymond Green
The Golden State Warriors have been surprisingly mediocre during the 2022-23 NBA season. They boast a 35-33 record and are vying to stay in the top six of the Western Conference standings. Injuries and lack of depth have hampered the team's chances of competing for a homecourt seeding.
Draymond Green enduring a significant injury against the Bucks would've impacted them further. They have been too inconsistent all year to sustain winning results without their star players.
Even when healthy, the Warriors have struggled. The Warriors are currently without Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II. Unlike last season, they don't have the frontcourt depth to cover for these absences, and certainly not for Green, who is a vital cog on both ends.
Nevertheless, Draymond Green's return to finish the game was a huge positive for the Warriors. He was on the floor during overtime, so his latest injury setback seems manageable for now. The Warriors have the Mavericks, Timberwolves, and Lakers breathing down their necks to claim the sixth spot in the standings. They will need all the luck and fortune regarding injuries for their remaining games.