Memphis guard Dillon Brooks is ready to return to the floor for Game 4 in San Francisco tonight.
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SAN FRANCISCO – In what marked his first appearance since serving a one-game suspension for collecting a Flagrant Foul 2, Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks offered a mix of remorse and defiance surrounding the incident.
Brooks expressed regret that his foul on Warriors guard Gary Payton II led to him suffering a fracture in his left elbow as well as torn ligaments, an injury the Warriors estimate will sideline him for at least two weeks.
“I didn’t mean for it to hurt somebody,” Brooks said. “If I were able to take it back, I would. But that’s in the past.”
Yet, Brooks disagreed with the criticism surrounding his foul. Warriors coach Steve Kerr argued that Brooks “broke the code” after fouling Payton II from behind on a fast-break layup by striking him above the shoulders.
“No reaction. I don’t really know what that means,” Brooks said. “It’s the playoffs. Every bucket, every basket and every play counts. So, I didn’t understand what he meant by that.”
A reporter then offered context on what Kerr meant. Kerr took issue with Brooks’ foul because it took place while Payton was already in mid-air. Brooks maintained that he “was trying to make a play on the ball.”
“It’s a fast-paced game. Stuff happens. Guys jump in the air and guys can contest shots,” Brooks said. “Sometimes the play unfolds, and you fall down. He tried to brace his fall with his arm. It’s a tough play. If I could take it back, I would. But I can’t take it back.”
With the Warriors holding a 2-1 series lead, the Grizzlies welcome Brooks’ return for Game 4 on Monday (10 p.m. ET, TNT) for various reasons.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins still described point guard Ja Morant as “doubtful” after not participating in morning shootaround because of right knee soreness, an injury that happened at the end of their Game 3 loss. Although Jenkins said Morant took an MRI, Jenkins offered no specifics on the results, the injury itself or whether he complete a pre-game warmup. Morant attended the team’s morning shootaround in sweats and sandals and walked off the court with a limp.
Ja is here in slippers. Did not participate in shootaround. pic.twitter.com/joqQX3nJaY
— Drew Hill (@DrewHill_DM) May 9, 2022
Although Brooks shot only a combined 3-for-16 against Golden State in Games 1 and 2 before his ejection, Jenkins projected that Brooks “is going to be huge for us” as he has become “a tone-setter” defensively.
Brooks will try to fulfill that job description in front of a hostile Warriors crowd. He may also face a hostile opponent, admitting that he has not talked to Payton II or any other Warriors player to clear the air over the play.
“I like getting booed,” Brooks said. “I like guys against me, It gets me going even more. Just staying on the playbook and focusing on the game. I already know it’s going to come. It doesn’t faze me.”
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Mark Medina is a senior writer/analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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