It’s playoff basketball, and we are here for it! After beating the Rockets on Sunday, that too on their home court, the Warriors knew that Game 2 was going to be a dog fight. That’s exactly what happened. Hard fouls, brutal landings, heated altercations—tonight’s clash looked more like a WWE PLE than a basketball game. And it all culminated with one final altercation that even forced security to step in.

The incident occurred midway through the final quarter. Well, the game’s outcome was already decided at that point as the Rockets led by nineteen points. Hoping to stop the bleeding, the Bay Area team called a timeout. As the players headed to the bench, Draymond Green and Fred VanVleet got a little chippy and began chirping at each other. While the two stars butted heads, their teammates emptied the bench and joined in. Before things got physical, team security and officials separated the players, potentially saving them from a major penalty.

The on-air announcers detailed the entire incident on Live TV, highlighting security’s role, “Watch VanVleet and Draymond come together. Draymond says something, VanVleet says something back, they’re face to face exchanging pleasantries… The crew did a great job there. Courtney Kirkland and David Guthrie and all the security for the Warriors as well. The same thing with the Rockets and their security staff.” Had it not been for security interference, several players could have been ejected for participating in the altercation.

Warriors broadcasters even warned the players about such crucial mistakes, “Here’s the issue though that you don’t wanna get in the habit of. If you leave the bench area, you’re suspended for a game. Be careful.” Considering how physical the game was, it is possible that the league reviews the incident and maybe hands out a few suspensions to the players who left the bench. However, only one player got caught in the crossfire tonight—Tari Eason.

Tari Eason gets penalized for initially unnoticed act during Draymond Green and Fred VanVleet altercation

After the situation calmed down, the officials headed to the monitor to review the incident. With Draymond and VanVleet being the prime suspects, everyone thought they would be penalized with a double technical. But the refs’ decision took everyone by surprise. They handed out Tari Eason, a tech out of nowhere. Reason? Throwing a towel in an “unsportsmanlike” manner.

Yes, replay showed Eason throwing a towel in the Warriors players’ direction which landed right on Pat Spencer’s face. Although Spencer was not too bothered by it, the officials penalized the act accordingly. Even the on-air announcers acknowledged that they initially missed Eason’s act amid all the chaos on the court.

“Wow. Draymond Green avoids. I thought they would go with the dreaded double technical on VanVleet and Draymond Green… That’s the towel throwing by Tari Eason that David Guthrie just referenced. I did not see that in the original replay.”

Given how fiery things got between Fred VanVleet and Draymond Green in Game 2, it’s clear this series isn’t short on attitude or history. And truth is, the banter didn’t start in the playoffs — it’s been brewing for a while.

A perfect snapshot of the playful fire fueling this Warriors-Rockets clash came during a recent podcast exchange between Draymond Green and Fred VanVleet — and yes, it even looped in Steven Adams.

Draymond said, “Me and Steven Adams don’t really get into it much, man. I think there’s a mutual respect there.” Fred, never one to let things slide, shot back: “Didn’t you kick my man in the n–s, man?”

Draymond’s defense? Classic: “Listen, number one, I was selling a call. I was selling a call, and I got it.”

And just like that, the spice level of this Warriors-Rockets series went up a notch. With Game 3 at the Chase Center, expect Draymond to bring the heat — and Fred to make sure his young guns are ready for war.

So, don’t be surprised if more such wild altercations occur in the remaining games as both teams head to the Bay Area for Game 3. Are you excited?