CNN-
Star shooting guard Klay Thompson was sent off on Tuesday for the first time in his long NBA career in the Golden State Warriors’ head-to-head 134-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
In the third quarter of the chippy loss to the Suns, Thompson and Phoenix’s Devin Booker were able to exchange words as tempers flared.
According to Booker, Thompson repeatedly enjoyed having four NBA championship rings after the game as the two bumped and went back and forth at each other. The Suns have made it to the NBA Finals three times in franchise history, but have yet to win an NBA title.
Both received technical fouls as a result of the struggle. Thompson reacted angrily to the umpires and earned a second technical foul and was subsequently removed from the game.
The ejection was Thompson’s first in 796 regular-season and post-season NBA games.
After being ejected, the five-time All Star had to be stopped by teammate Steph Curry and one of the team’s assistant coaches.
As he left the field, Thompson could be seen pointing to his hand as he looked at the Suns bench, repeating the point he had apparently made to Booker.
Booker told the media afterwards that he liked the trash talk and said the two were “competitors.”
“I love Klay Thompson. I have really long. But it’s no excuse for us to be competitive and talk to each other,” explains Booker. “I’ve always admired his game, how he plays on both sides of the ball. And of course the rings speak for themselves.”
At the time Thompson was ejected, the Warriors were just six points behind. However, from then on, the Suns took control of the game and Golden State was unable to narrow the gap to less than 12 points for the remainder of the game.
Seven technical fouls were called out in the third quarter of the fiery game, including Phoenix players Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton and Warriors forward Draymond Green and head coach Steve Kerr.
“I think both teams want it. I don’t think it’s personal at all. I think we just respect them. They are the champions,” said Suns coach Monty Williams.
“So they’re going to get our best because they’re the best, so I think a lot of the emotion is just about being competitive. We don’t take it personally at all, we just understand better that once all those things happen, we’re going to get back together.” need to focus on being competitive and trying to win the game.”
Tuesday’s game was one filled with passion and hostility, and one that felt like a late season playoff game.
Amid the trash talk and heated exchanges, the Suns used a big second half — including a 15-1 run — to pull back from the defending champions.
Booker led the way for the Suns with 34 points and seven assists, while Miles Bridges and Jock Landale both contributed 17 points.
Curry led the Warriors with 21 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, while Jordan Poole added 17 points and five assists from the bench.
With both teams having only played four games of the new season, the Suns improve to a 3-1 record while the Warriors fall back to 2-2.