In first game back from rib injury, Kevin Durant ejected at end of first half

OAKLAND -- Kevin Durant said the magic word, said it more than once according to witnesses, and referee Tre Maddox was not in the mood to hear it.

So Maddox slapped Durant with back-to-back technical fouls, resulting in automatic ejection with 2.4 seconds remaining in the first half of the Warriors-Bucks game Thursday night at Oracle Arena.

That was Durant’s league-leading fifth ejection this season, accompanied by his 13th and 14th technical fouls. A 16th technical foul results in an automatic one-game suspension.

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Durant, returning to the lineup after a five-game absence due to a rib cartilage injury, was upset about several non-calls on plays during which he thought the Bucks were allowed to get a bit too physical. He took at least two elbows to the rib area.

Driving to the basket with 11.4 seconds left in the half, Durant was hit twice, once clearly by Milwaukee center John Henson and landed on the deck. When there was no whistle, Durant got up as play resumed and walked directly toward Maddox.

As Durant addressed the referee, Maddox signaled one technical foul. A moment later, as Durant kept talking, Maddux issued a second technical, rather theatrically, sending Durant to the locker room for the rest of the night.

Durant played 17 minutes, totaling 10 points, six assists and three rebounds.