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What Kerr said to Smart after ‘dangerous play' with Steph

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Following the Warriors 110-88 loss to the Warriors, Steve Kerr talked about how he felt Marcus Smart’s play on Steph Curry in the second quarter was, “dangerous,”.

Tensions boiled over during the second quarter of the Warriors' 110-88 loss to the Boston Celtics at Chase Center on Wednesday after Marcus Smart dove for a loose ball and rolled into Steph Curry's leg, knocking the star guard out with left foot soreness.

That play, coupled with Smart's ensuing flagrant foul on Klay Thompson, led to Warriors coach Steve Kerr yelling at the Celtics point guard. Kerr and Smart spoke after the game and cleared the air, but Kerr was adamant about his stance on the play that took Curry out of the game.

"I thought it was a dangerous play," Kerr said after the game. "I thought Marcus dove into Steph's knee and that's what I was upset about. A lot of respect for Marcus. He's a hell of a player, gamer, competitor. I coached him in the world cup a couple summers ago. We talked after the game and we're good. But I thought it was a dangerous play and just let him know."

Smart defended the play, saying he didn't see Curry and just dove for the loose ball. The Celtics guard said he was "down" about injuring Curry and gave a little more insight into his conversation with Kerr.

“But Steve, you know, he was doing what he’s supposed to do, backing up his guy. He felt the way, which is understandable, you know,” Smart told NBC Sports Boston's Abby Chin after the game. “And me and Steve got a relationship from USA (Basketball) that we can talk like that. And afterwards he told me, ‘You know, I want you on my team. You’re one of those guys that everybody wants on your team. I had to back my guy up and it’s much respect to you guys.’ And that’s what it’s all about. Like I said, I hate that it happened and I feel really bad and I hope that he’s alright.”

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While Kerr reviewed the film and still thought Smart's play was out of line, Draymond Green didn't think it was dirty.

"I expect Marcus Smart to make that play," Green said after the loss. "He plays hard. I can't call it a dirty play. If it was a dirty play I would have went and dove into his head. I had a pretty great look on the play. I was right up top. Maybe unnecessary, but that's the most I can call it is unnecessary. I can't call it dirty. The ball is on the floor. At every level of basketball, we are taught to dive on the floor and go after the ball and that's what Marcus did."

Curry underwent an MRI after the loss and The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Thursday the two-time MVP will be out indefinitely with a sprained ligament in his left foot. However, X-rays reportedly were negative and Curry avoided major injury.

The Warriors' Big Three spent one-and-a-half games together before Curry exited Wednesday. While the Warriors aren't feeling sorry for themselves, that doesn't mean it wasn't a gut punch.

"It sucks," Green said. "But that's just how the cookie crumbles and you got to figure it out and deal with it. But boy, it's rough. It sucks for sure."

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