(Video) Draymond Green Sparks Rigging Rumors by Saying Warriors Spread 5.5 in Last Timeout

Adam Silver will not be pleased with the 'NBA is rigged' rumors flying around in the wake of Draymond Green sideline footage emerging.

(Video) Draymond Green Sparks Rigging Rumors by Saying Warriors Spread 5.5 in Last Timeout

Draymond Green (Image via FirstSportz)

The Warriors had a golden opportunity (pun intended) to take a 2-1 series lead in game 3 at Chase Center. They held a slim but significant lead in the fourth quarter against the Timberwolves. However, the team unraveled after Draymond Green fouled out of the game with a shooting foul on Jaden McDaniels. With him out, the Wolves went on an 18-12 run over the final five minutes and took the win.

The Warriors were down 102-94 when they took a timeout to try and get within two possessions. Green, who was on the sidelines, was then spotted mouthing something suspicious. The 2016-17 DPOY seemed to be talking about the spread on the betting lines for this game. The Wolves were favored to win the game by a margin of 5.5 points or more, and Green seemed to be stating this, according to some fans.

Another fan noted how the Warriors were able to get the offensive rebound and get Jonathan Kuminga his final 3 points off it, consequently helping them beat the spread.

NBA players have, in the recent past, been openly accosted by gamblers, especially when the latter seem to lose their bets. Quite a few of them are greeted with hostility, whether they’re on the road or at home. With Jontay Porter‘s recent ban and the ongoing investigation on Terry Rozier, NBA players are under the gambling microscope.

While there is no audio for what Draymond Green said thus far, the lip-reading seems to be damning. NBA Twitter is running with this version and is already erupting with rumors of the league being rigged. A few users noted that the Warriors kept their starters in. It would be a serious allegation with no concrete proof to imply that this was to try and get within the spread. But that seems to be the spirit that fans are interpreting this in.

Given that this occurred at such a meaningless juncture of the game, there will probably not be any more scrutiny on this ahead of game 4. It is important to note that the NBA has previously been accused of rigging even by its own referees.

Draymond Green has been thoroughly outplayed by the Wolves frontcourt

One of the biggest battle zones of this playoff series has been inside the paint. Both Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert are all-time great paint defenders who have risen to the occasion in playoff settings. But Green has had the worst of these exchanges in the past couple of games. Julius Randle and Naz Reid have imposed their will on the Warriors’ frontcourt. The former even had a triple-double in game 3.

The Timberwolves have size, athleticism and length at every position on the floor. With Curry out for at least another game, the Warriors will need to hang their hat on defense, play in transition and make the most of their other advantages. But with Green unable to raise his offensive output or neutralize his opposite numbers, the task becomes monumentally more difficult for the rest of the roster.

The Warriors will need Jonathan Kuminga, Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield to continue having high-scoring games in order to win game 4 and hang in there in the absence of Stephen Curry.

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