The Warriors’ Pat Spencer earned an ejection – and the approval of teammate Draymond Green – on Wednesday night after headbutting an opponent.
Spencer and other backups saw court time in the second half after the game got badly out of hand in favor of the Rockets.
And Spencer certainly made his presence felt when he and teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis clashed with Houston’s Alperen Sengun in the fourth quarter.
After Spencer wrestled Dillon Brooks for a rebound and the Houston player ended up on the ground, the Golden State player was bumped by Sengun as he walked to the other side of the court.
The pair then got in each other’s faces before Spencer headbutted the Turkish big man, before Trayce-Davis strongly shoved him back as well.
Draymond Green, who is of course no stranger to an ejection, could then be seen grinning after watching the play on the big screen.
Pat Spencer headbutted the Rockets’ Alperen Sengun on Wednesday night
Draymond Green grinned after watching a replay of the moment on the big screen
Despite earning an ejection towards the end of the 131-116 loss, Spencer’s move was applauded by his teammates – including Jimmy Butler and Brandin Podziemski – as they high-fived him on his way off of the court,
That group also included Green, whose 23 ejections are the second-most of all-time in the NBA. He wrapped Spencer in a hug before his teammate walked off of the court.
Jackson-Davis and Sengun were also assessed technical fouls.
Spencer’s moment came after the Rockets led by as much as 31 at home, as they went on to cut the series deficit to 3-2.
He played well ahead of being booted from the contest as he scored 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Spencer was applauded by his teammates as he left the court following his ejection
Green, who has 23 career ejections in the NBAm wrapped Spencer in a hug
Spencer, Jackson-Davis and other bench players actually cut the lead to 13 with four minutes to play, and Houston’s starters re-entered the game earlier in the fourth to see out the game.
The Warriors will hope that their reserves’ late-game surge will carry into the next game, though it seems plausible that Spencer could be suspended for that contest.
Game 6 will take place on Friday.
