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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

NBA rescinds Game 2 double technicals against Draymond Green, Nene

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) reacts after scoring, in front of Houston Rockets’ Chris Paul (3) during the second half of Game 2 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, April 30, 2019. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)
By Janie Mccauley Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. – Warriors forward Draymond Green and Houston big man Nene had their double technical fouls rescinded by the NBA from Tuesday night’s Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Golden State had approached the league asking for the consideration.

The NBA said on Twitter that the technicals had been dropped “upon league office review.”

That’s a big deal for Green if the two-time defending champions play deep into the postseason again. The Warriors lead their best-of-seven series with the Rockets 2-0 going into Game 3 on Saturday in Houston.

With one fewer technical now, Green’s total for the postseason is back to three – and seven draws an automatic one-game suspension.

“I’m happy about it. It’s good,” Green said after practice Thursday before the Warriors departed the Bay Area for Texas. “It helps me, a lot.”

Green and Nene got tangled up and drew double technicals with one second remaining in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 115-109 victory after James Harden made three free throws.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr insisted it was just an intense play and said he didn’t think either deserved a technical.

When asked whether the rule should be changed where technical fouls start new each playoff round, Green said: “I think it’s one of those rules that’s just kind of been in place for so long and it’s one of those things that it never affects you until it affects you, and then it’s something that everyone looks at and talks about. Obviously, I’m in favor of it but that’s just me.”