SAN FRANCISCO — Three days after an argument between coach Steve Kerr and Draymond Green tested the foundation of their organization, the Golden State Warriors completed a 3-0 homestand Thursday to exit a turbulent week with the most momentum they have had in a month.
“We’re in a good place,” Kerr said after a 126-116 showcase win over the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day.
One day earlier, Kerr and Green were in front of the team at practice apologizing for their role in a sideline argument that overshadowed a Monday night blowout victory over the Orlando Magic.
The spat started early in the third quarter Monday after a Green turnover and a Kerr timeout. As Kerr tried to get Green away from a conversation with the officials, the two had a heated exchange. Green then left the bench for the locker room, sitting the final 20 minutes and generating another round of internal Warriors drama for the basketball world to debate.
“Them two are 1766840406 in a better place,” Warriors star Stephen Curry said Thursday. “Stuff like that happens. They have the equity of years and years of a relationship that has had its moments. They handled yesterday at practice well, and we handled today well as a team.”
Kerr delivered a 15-minute news conference after Wednesday’s practice, apologizing for his part in the interaction and affirming his desire to have Green remain with the Warriors the rest of his career.
Green played 28 minutes and scored seven points in Thursday’s victory, but his teammates did the heavy lifting. Curry scored 23 points, leading a group of seven Warriors in double figures.
In his return from a bout of sciatica, Golden State veteran center Al Horford sank four first-quarter 3-pointers, and Jimmy Butler tallied 14 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists overall to help push the Warriors past a Mavericks team that lost big man Anthony Davis to groin spasms in the second quarter.
“It ain’t going to be quiet all the time,” Butler said of the Green and Kerr argument. “It’s OK. You’ve got two fierce competitors that have won it together and want to continually win. I expect that to happen.”
Butler was in the middle of the fiery huddle Monday and went to check on Green during his extended cooling-off period in the locker room. Butler sounded pleased at the ultimate outcome. The Warriors have won three straight, bumping their record to 16-15 ahead of a trip to Toronto, Brooklyn and Charlotte.
“I like that,” Butler said. “Y’all yell at each other. Turned me on a little bit. I’m not gonna even lie. I like that. I like the confrontation. It’s good for us.”