Warriors' Draymond Green: Didn't mean to hit Grizzlies' Mike Conley

OAKLAND - Draymond Green said he has nothing but respect for Memphis point guard Mike Conley and did not intentionally try to hit him in the face during the Grizzlies’ 97-90 win over the Warriors.

Conley, who scored 22 points while wearing a protective mask in a spectacular return eight days after surgery to repair broken bones in his face, was on the ground in a scramble in the second quarter when Green tried to wrestle the ball from him.

In the process, he bumped Conley in the face, prompting glares from Memphis players during an ensuing timeout.

“He was laying on the floor with the ball in the air and I reached for the ball. Obviously, it was near his face so I made a mistake and hit him in the face,” Green said after Monday night’s game.

“A lot of respect for Mike Conley. Obviously, I would never intentionally try to hurt anyone, especially a guy who you have a ton of respect for.

“I’m a big fan of the NBA. Conley is a guy who came into the league and wasn’t expected to be what he’s grown into. Obviously he’s a hard worker and I respect hard workers. I would never intentionally try to hurt a guy. And I let him know that.”

Memphis power forward Zach Randolph said he talked with his fellow Michigan State alum afterward and was satisfied with Green’s explanation.

“I said, ‘Did you hurt my guard?’ He said, ‘Nah, I didn’t do it on purpose,’?” Randolph said. “I had to ask him, though. I told him, ‘I ain’t going to hurt yours. Are you gonna hurt mine?’

“I believe him because (of the connection to) Michigan State.”

But Green said Conley’s health status doesn’t give him a free pass to avoid normal, physical play.

“Just because a guy has a mask on his face doesn’t change the fact that you’re not going to go after the ball,” Green said.

“I saw him trying to call for a timeout and I was going to try to tie the ball up before the referee called the timeout.”

Memphis coach Dave Joerger danced around the topic when asked if he thought Green’s play was excessive.

“I’m not going to answer that,” he said. “Stuff happens. It’s a competitive and emotional game.”

The play immediately drew strong reaction on social media, especially from fans of the Grizzlies.

“I know there are a lot of people on my Twitter, giving me hate, telling me don’t come to Memphis and all that stuff,” Green said. “They can make it out to be that I tried to hit Conley in the face on purpose if they want to. It doesn’t make me feel any different.

“I know I didn’t hit him in the face on purpose. I would never do anything like that. So we move on.”

The Western Conference semifinal series is tied at 1-1, with Game 3 on Saturday in Memphis.