The last thing you want to do if you're a Warriors opponent is light a fire under Draymond Green.
CJ McCollum and the New Orleans Pelicans learned that the hard way in a 120-109 loss to Golden State on Tuesday at Chase Center.
Shortly after Green's hard foul on Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram in the second quarter, McCollum was seen exchanging words with Green, who was held back by Warriors teammates on the sideline. Later in the third quarter, McCollum was given a Flagrant 1 foul after pushing Donte DiVincenzo, further escalating tensions between the two teams.
Green spoke to TNT's Chris Haynes on the court after the game, where he explained how the Warriors' early deficit and McCollum's trash talk provided the motivation he needed to help turn things around for Golden State.
"We started playing with some heart and intensity," Green told Haynes. "That first quarter and a half they punked us and we were down 20. It takes a real one to talk when you're down 20. I was able to get my guys going and they started doing what they do and I do what I do."
"I fouled [Brandon Ingram], it was a good, hard foul and CJ [McCollum] started talking. Don't start talking, play the game and just enjoy what y'all were doing. They were playing a good game and he started talking. And that's my type of game, I like that. That's what I do, I grew up in Saginaw, Michigan and that's how we play. And so once they wanted to go there, I enjoyed that."
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The Warriors went on to outscore the Pelicans 74-46 in the second half, erasing a 20-point deficit while storming back to secure a huge win over a fellow Western Conference playoff hopeful.
McCollum and the Pelicans poked the bear and ended up paying the price.