The circumstances accompanying his sharing of the on-court spotlight alongside the “Splash Brothers,” on November 12, 2024, may have been different for obvious reasons. Yet, with the Golden State Warriors’ victory hopes hinging on one must-have defensive stand, Draymond Green made certain that the result remained an all-too-familiar one. One trademark sequence away from helping transform a once-troubling seven-point deficit into a go-ahead opportunity, the 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year monitors both Luka Dončić’s drive, and his seemingly-advantageous pass to Daniel Gafford along the dunker’s spot. In an identical show of déjà vu from last spring's regular-season matchup, Green, patiently awaiting Gafford’s in-air decision, merely outhangs him, stifling the Dallas Mavericks center for a game-altering rejection. In perfect, two-way harmony with his All-Star backcourt mate, Green’s play proved vital in the Warriors’ late 15-5 run, ultimately securing an emotional win during their NBA Cup opener. Ever the energizer, Green’s do-it-all contributions concluded with 11 points (on three-of-six shooting), seven rebounds, six assists, three steals, two blocks, and two 3-pointers, sustaining his red-hot stretch from downtown. · Nov 13, 2024