Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green was ejected from a game for the third time this season on Tuesday night when he slapped Phoenix Suns opponent Jusuf Nurkic in the face.<br /><br />Green was trying to break away from Nurkic before he wheeled around with an open hand and smacked him with enough force to send his opponent to the ground.<br /><br />Nurkic immediately crumpled to the ground but eventually got up and stayed in the game. <br /><br />The referees reviewed the play before calling Green for a Flagrant 2 foul, which caused an automatic ejection. <br /><br />It's the third time this season that Green has been ejected from a game and he will likely be handed yet another suspension.<br /><br />His most recent ejection came after putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold back on November 14. That led to a five-game suspension.<br /><br />After that incident, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr called Green's actions 'inexcusable'.<br /><br />When handing down the five-game suspension, league executive VP Joe Dumars said that Green's history of unsportsmanlike conduct played a role in how long the ban was. <br /><br />He had also been ejected after receiving two technical fouls in a November 11 game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. <br /><br />Green now has 19 ejections across his entire NBA career - the most among active players, but ten behind the record held by Rasheed Wallace. <br /><br />Speaking after his latest ejection on Tuesday night, coach Kerr said: 'We need Draymond. He knows that. We've talked to him.<br /><br />'He's got to find a way to keep his poise and be out there for his teammates.'<br /><br />Asked what can be done to improve Green's discipline, Kerr added: 'We'll keep working.'<br /><br />Then questioned whether or not he's becoming a hindrance, he said: 'Draymond is still one hell of a player. Still a really good player and we need him.<br /><br />'If we're going to be a really good team then we need him.'<br /><br />Devin Booker scored 32 points and Bradley Beal added 16 in his return from a back injury as the Suns held on late to beat the Warriors 119-116.<br /><br />The Suns took an 88-87 lead into the fourth quarter after Beal hit a baseline jumper with 1.9 seconds left.<br /><br />Phoenix used a 12-0 run - highlighted by Jordan Goodwin's steal, pass, and then reverse dunk by Booker - to push ahead 109-96 with about four minutes left.<br /><br />The Warriors trailed 113-104 with 1:30 left but rallied to cut the margin to 115-114 with 15 seconds left. <br /><br />Booker responded with two free throws to give the Suns a three-point lead and Steph Curry missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing position.<br /><br />Beal followed with two free throws to finally put away the game. The Suns are 3-0 this season against the Warriors.<br /><br />Booker shot 12 of 23 from the field and added seven assists. Nurkic finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.<br /><br />The Suns' big three of Booker, Beal, and 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant still hasn't played a game together this season. Durant missed his second straight game Tuesday with a left ankle sprain.
