Warriors-Timberwolves melee: Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels ejected inside TWO minutes after tussle

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr hit out at the decision to eject Klay Thompson from the 101-104 defeat to Minnesota Timberwolves following a spectacular melee, while he also questioned Draymond Green's ejection in the same incident.

The scuffle in the In-Season Tournament game broke out with less than two minutes on the clock when Jaden McDaniels and Thompson got tied up with one another. They grabbed each other, refusing to let go before Green intervened, dragging away Wolves star Rudy Gobert in a headlock.

After a review, McDaniels and Thompson were adjudged to have committed two technical fouls each and Green was given a Flagrant 2 foul.

Losing key players Thompson and Green was a huge blow for the Warriors, who were also missing Steph Curry due to injury. Despite having McDaniels ejected, the Timberwolves proved too strong for their opponents.

"There is no way Klay should have been thrown out of the game," Kerr said.

"He's running up the floor and the guy grabs his jersey and is pulling on him, so Klay pulls back... that was ridiculous."

On Green’s dismissal, Kerr added: "Guys on the bench were telling us Rudy had Klay, that's why Draymond went at Rudy. That's all I know – it was a bizarre way to start the game, a minute and a half in."

Reflecting on the incident, McDaniels said: "I was just trying to crash for a rebound and [Thompson] kind of grabbed my collar. I was just trying to defend myself and get him off me.

"The rest is what it is. I knew before that there was some chitter-chatter going back and forth. I didn't take it seriously. I was just laughing. I guess it was a bigger deal to him."

Gobert said he got involved to "de-escalate the situation."

"My first thought was just, 'I'm not going to fight. I need to be in this game to help my team'," Gobert said.

"I just showed the ref that I had my hands up, and I just waited until the situation was over. Nothing more than that. It wasn't a good enough choke to put me to sleep."

The win leaves Timberwolves top of West Group C with two victories, while Warriors are third with one win and a loss.

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