Draymond Green never has lacked confidence, and that didn't change after Wednesday night's loss.
The Warriors fell 123-109 to the Toronto Raptors in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, dropping into a two-games-to-one hole in the best-of-seven series. Golden State was without Kevin Durant (strained right calf), Klay Thompson (left hamstring strain) and Kevon Looney (non-displaced first costal cartilage fracture), and felt the absence of all three players.
Steph Curry did his best, leading the Warriors with 47 points. But Green was the next closest player, chipping in 17, and 11-point scorer Andre Iguodala was the only other Warrior to reach double figures.
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Green insisted that Golden State could've taken a series lead despite said injuries if he had played better, and he told reporters the Warriors would not use it as an excuse en route to another championship.
"But no one cares that guys are hurt," Green said from the Oracle Arena podium Wednesday night. "Everybody want to see us lose, so I'm sure people are happy they're hurt. We just gotta continue to battle and win the next game, go back to Toronto, win Game 5, come back to Oracle, win Game 6, and then celebrate.
"Fun times ahead."
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Green doesn't shy away from a bulletin-board quote, and some Game 4 reinforcements could back him up. Warriors coach Steve Kerr told The Athletic's Tim Kawakami that he was hopeful Thompson could return to the lineup Friday, and Durant will play in a closed-door scrimmage Thursday.
Golden State Warriors
But lest you think the return of one -- or both -- of those players gives Green and the Warriors an "on your left" moment Friday night, Golden State faces an uphill battle to win the NBA Finals, no matter what lineup takes the floor in Game 4. The Warriors came back from a two-games-to-one Finals deficit back in 2015, but the Raptors have home-court advantage again after winning Game 3.
At the very least, we know the caption of Drake's Instagram story if the Raptors win Game 4.