Warriors' Draymond Green clashes with Suns' Jusuf Nurkic -- 'Never backing down' - ESPN

SAN FRANCISCO — After hooking a shot in over Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green in the third quarter Saturday night, Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic slapped the floor twice and taunted Green with the «too small» gesture.

Just two minutes later, Green returned the favor.

With just Nurkic between him and the hoop, Green quickly backed Nurkic down and scooped the ball up over his head into the basket. Immediately, he smacked the ground just as Nurkic had.

«You can't be a nothing defender if you're going to do that,» Green said or Nurkic. «You probably outweigh me by 70 pounds and you get put in the rim? Got to be more careful.»

The Warriors' 113-112 win was the first time Golden State and the Suns faced off since Dec. 12, when Green punched Nurkic in the head and earned an indefinite suspension that ultimately sidelined him for 12 games.

Part of the criteria for Green's reinstatement was going through counseling and proving to his team and the league that he had learned how to manage his behavior.

Nurkic said Saturday night that Green clearly hadn't done so.

«It's sad. He didn't learn anything,» Nurkic said after the game. «Just a matter of time. He's going to hit somebody else again. Take back everything I said. He don't deserve a chance.»

When told of Nurkic's remarks at his postgame news conference, Green took a moment before he responded.

«I thought I was great tonight,» Green said with a smile. «He tried to get in my head, and it didn't work. If he wants me to walk around quiet like him, I'm never going to do that. Quiet guys don't win… He can keep rocking with that same horse that he rode in on. He can ride his ass right out of here on that same horse. It's not working.»

Nurkic's remarks trickled throughout