LATEST: Jusuf Nurkic delivers a significant blow to Draymond Green and the Warriors, leaving a notable impact without facing an ejection.

Suns center Jusuf Nurkic absorbed a hit from Draymond Green but sought his own form of retaliation.

In a game where Draymond Green’s punch to Jusuf Nurkic’s head overshadowed the final result, the Phoenix Suns secured a 119-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.

In the early stages of the third quarter, Green and Nurkic engaged in a physical altercation while vying for position, a situation that, although robust, did not appear to be out of the ordinary. During this exchange, the Golden State forward seemed to lose his balance slightly, and without apparent cause, he abruptly turned around and struck Nurkic in the face.

The Suns center promptly collapsed to the floor but managed to rise and remain in the game. Following a review of the incident, the referees deemed Green’s action a Flagrant 2 foul, resulting in an automatic ejection.

This occurrence comes within a month of Green’s five-game suspension by the NBA for placing Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert in a headlock during a confrontation in November.

Despite the disruptive incident, Nurkic and the Suns emerged victorious, having the last laugh. Nurkic delivered an impressive performance, contributing 17 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, as reported by StatMuse.

Following the victory, the Suns improved their record to 13-10 and welcomed Bradley Beal back to the lineup on Tuesday night. Beal, returning from a back injury, contributed 16 points.

The Warriors, on the other hand, faced ongoing challenges, slipping to a 10-13 record for the season. The road ahead doesn’t appear to be any smoother for Golden State, especially with the anticipated suspension for Draymond Green following his recent transgression. Notably, Green’s ejection marked the third in just 14 games played this season.

Looking ahead, the Suns are set to host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.