Tuesday night’s Minnesota Timberwolves 104-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors included an early fight that resulted in the ejection of Draymond Green for placing Rudy Gobert in a headlock and the ejection of two additional players.

Saying his piece, Gobert was brief. “That’s just acting like a clown.”

Just two minutes had passed when, after a Timberwolves possession, Klay Thompson of Golden State and Jaden McDaniels of Minnesota engaged into a shoving brawl close to midcourt. The game was still 0-0 at that point. Before Green could intervene and pull Gobert away from behind by putting his arm around the center’s neck, Gobert intervened and seized hold of Thompson.

During the altercation, Thompson’s jersey was torn, resulting in Green’s second-season expulsion and two free throws for Gobert.

According to Golden State coach Steve Kerr, Thompson shouldn’t have been sent out because McDaniels started the fight.

“As he sprints across the floor, the man grabs his jersey and starts tugging on him.” Thus, Klay retreats,” Kerr remarked. There is no way Klay should have been removed. That was absurd.

When the Minnesota player missed the shot and the Wolves forward went in for the rebound, McDaniels and Thompson first collided. McDaniels claimed that when Thompson snatched at his collar, he was “just trying to defend myself.”

Although there was some initial hostility between the sides, McDaniels did not think the situation would escalate.

“I wasn’t taking it seriously, but there was some back-and-forth chitter-chatter,” McDaniels stated. “I was chuckling at myself. And after that, I suppose it just meant more to him.

Following the game, Thompson and Green were unavailable for comment.

Gobert claimed he intervened to “de-escalate the situation” after the altercation started. To prevent things from getting worse, Gobert raised his hands when Green grabbed him.

“I decided right away that I wouldn’t fight. To support my team, I have to be in this game,” Gobert remarked. “I just waited until the situation was over and demonstrated to the referee that I had my hands up.” Not a bit more than that. The choke wasn’t strong enough to send me to sleep.

Gobert was not booted for his involvement because he was viewed as a “peacemaker,” according to crew chief Tyler Ford, who spoke with a pool reporter.

Chris Finch, the coach of Minnesota, stated, “I thought the ejections were the right ones.” “I believed they were justified. In my opinion, the referees performed admirably in seizing control of the game from that vantage position. Although the game was somewhat physical, it wasn’t extremely risky or uncontrollable.

Gobert stated that he did not feel in danger during the altercation, but he still believes that Green will face consequences from the NBA.

He expressed his hope that the league would take the necessary action.