For four straight plays, Draymond Green had enough. The Rockets weren’t going to score, not if he had anything to say about it.
NBA scores 2017: Draymond Green made his campaign for Defensive Player of the Year
Green anchored a Warriors defense that held the Rockets below 100 points for the first time in 62 games.
Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Green either blocked or denied at the rim four consecutive Houston attempts in the third quarter of the Golden State Warriors’ 107-98 win over the Rockets on Friday. It was Green who defended James Harden in the second half, anchoring a Warriors defense that held the Rockets scoreless for seven minutes in the fourth quarter.
Golden State’s glue guy finished with just six points but turned in six rebounds, eight assists, three blocks, and a steal. The Warriors outscored the Rockets by 15 with Green on the floor, more than any other player on the night. They held Houston to fewer than 100 points for the first time in 62 games.
There’s a big fella over in Utah by the name of Rudy Gobert who may have something to say about Green’s candidacy for the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Gobert is the likely front-runner, patrolling the paint for the Jazz’s top-notch defense.
But Green’s versatility, defending Harden on the perimeter, blocking shots at the rim and guarding players in the low post, was on full display as his Warriors dispatched the Rockets on Friday. If you didn’t have him on your ballot, it’s time you acknowledge his presence.
The Eastern Conference playoff picture got shaken up
What happened: Indiana lost to the Raptors, the Wizards lost to the Jazz, the Bucks edged out the Pistons, and the Knicks surprised the Heat.
1) Boston Celtics (49-27) vs. 8) Indiana Pacers (37-39)
2) Cleveland Cavaliers (48-27) vs. 7) Miami Heat (37-39)
3) Toronto Raptors (46-30) vs. 6) Atlanta Hawks (39-36)
4) Washington Wizards (46-30) vs. 5) Milwaukee Bucks (40-36)
On the outside: 9) Chicago Bulls (36-39)
Things that happened
Final Scores
Raptors 111, Pacers 100 [Raptors HQ recap | Indy Cornrows recap]
Bucks 108, Pistons 105 OT [Brew Hoop recap | Detroit Bad Boys recap]
Hornets 122, Nuggets 114 [At the Hive recap | Denver Stiffs recap]
Cavaliers 122, 76ers 105 [Fear the Sword recap | Liberty Ballers recap]
Celtics 117, Magic 116 [Celtics Blog recap | Orlando Pinstriped Post recap]
Pelicans 117, Kings 89 [The Bird Writes recap | Sactown Royalty recap]
Grizzlies 99, Mavericks 90 [Grizzly Bear Blues recap | Mavs Moneyball recap]
Knicks 98, Heat 94 [Posting and Toasting recap | Hot Hot Hoops recap]
Spurs 100, Thunder 95 [Pounding the Rock recap | Welcome to Loud City recap]
Jazz 95, Wizards 88 [SLC Dunk recap | Liberty Ballers recap]
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