Draymond Green made NBA history during Golden State Warriors' Game 5 against Minnesota Timberwolves, despite facing a massive penalty

Draymond Green found himself at the center of attention once again on Wednesday night, both for his performance on the court and for controversy off of it. As the Golden State Warriors faced elimination in Game 5 of their playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves , Green etched his name into NBA postseason history, even after a hefty fine loomed over him.

Draymond Green made NBA history during Golden State Warriors vs Minnesota Timberwolves Game 5 matchupStephen Curry was sidelined due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain, an injury he suffered during Game 1, the Golden State Warriors were already in deep trouble. Down 3-1 in the series and trailing by 15 points at halftime (62-47), Golden State looked out of sync and increasingly desperate to keep their season alive.

In the first-half effort, Green contributed 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, shooting 4-of-8 from the field and hitting one from downtown. Those nine points pushed his career playoff total to 1,933, allowing him to surpass legends Walt Frazier and Gus Williams and climb to 71st on the NBA’s all-time playoff scoring list.

But Green’s night wasn’t defined by numbers alone. Just hours before tipoff, the NBA levied a $50,000 fine against him for a comment made during Game 3. During that loss to the Timberwolves, Green was caught on camera muttering, “The spread is 5.5!” — an offhand remark that many interpreted as him questioning the officiating and suggesting that the referees were favoring Minnesota to align with betting odds.

The NBA has fined Golden State's Draymond Green $50,000 for comments questioning integrity of the game officials, referring to the 5.5 spread number.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 14, 2025

The league took swift action. NBA President of League Operations Byron Spruell said in a statement: “Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been fined for $50,000 for making an inappropriate comment that questions the integrity of game officials.”

The following was released by the NBA: pic.twitter.com/mO8Ns2r1Of

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 14, 2025

Green has always toed the line between passion and provocation. Still, his Game 3 comment struck a particularly sensitive nerve, given the NBA's strict policies around gambling and game integrity.

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Regardless, it was not the best of times for the Warriors as the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated them in Game 5, crushing their championship hope.