The Golden State Warriors are going to back to a familiar lineup for Game 7 against the Sacramento Kings. After coming off the bench for the last three games, Draymond Green will return to the Warriors starting lineup.

Green has come off the bench since he was suspended for Game 3. Green has still played his regular minutes allotment as a reserve, but Steve Kerr is returning to his best defender with his regular starting group.

The winner of Game 7 will move on to face the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference semifinals series starting later this week.

Game 5 between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings averaged 4.29 million viewers on TNT, up 7% from last season.

Sunday's Game 4 between the two teams registered the highest viewership of any first round game in 21 years. 

Game 5 was the second lowest viewed game of the series after Game 3.

Game 5 between the Heat and Bucks on the same night averaged 934,000 viewers on NBA TV, the largest playoff audience on the network since 2014.

It was also the largest overall audience on NBA TV since 2016. 

The Golden State Warriors' 126-125 win over the Sacramento Kings in Game 4 was the most-watched first round NBA playoff game on any network in 21 years.

ABC had an average audience of 7.52 million viewers and it peaked with 10.406 million viewers at 6:00 PM ET.

The first round series between the Warriors and Kings is tied 2-2 with three of the four games being decided in the final minute. 

The game reference in 2022 was between the Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal-led Los Angeles Lakers and the Rasheed Wallace-led Portland Trail Blazers (8,555,000 viewers).

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and Seth Partnow of The Athletic (@SethPartnow) discuss the first round of the NBA playoffs.

They break down the importance of De’Aaron Fox’s injury, takeaways from Knicks/Cavs, officiating, teambuilding and much more.

Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts or via the RSS feed. 

The Golden State Warriors want to retain Draymond Green next season, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic. 

Green has a $27.6 million player option with the Warriors for the 23-24 season. The Warriors and Green have several options available whether it's an extension off that season, a brand new contract, or him opting in.

If Green were to become available as an opt-in and trade or an outright free agent, Charania reports that "several contenders across the league will value Green."

Draymond Green will return to the Golden State Warriors for Game 4 after a one-game suspension. However, Green's return to the Warriors starting lineup will have to wait.

Golden State will bring Green off the bench for Game 4 of their first-round series against the Sacramento Kings. The Warriors won Game 3 behind starting group that included Jordan Poole elevated to starting alongside regular openers Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney.

Green has only sporadically come off the bench since becoming a regular starter in 2014-15. Green's last playoff game off the bench came nearly nine years ago on April 24, 2014.

Draymond Green was suspended for Game 3, which the Golden State Warriors won to move their first round series against the Sacramento Kings to 2-1.

Green promises not to change the way he approaches the game.

"They created a Draymond rule before, that s--- don't work. I'm still sitting here," Green said after practice Saturday. 

"Draymond won't be moved by the Draymond rule," Green added. "I'll continue to play the game how I play the game, operate how I operate, be exactly who I am because that leads to winning. If I was losing, they wouldn't be creating Draymond rules. As long as they create Draymond rules, that means we're winning and that's great ... but it doesn't change Draymond."

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Sacramento Kings 114-97 in Game 3 despite the controversial suspension of Draymond Green. 

Stephen Curry scored 36 points with six three-pointers.

The NBA cited Green's history of prior incidents in their explanation of why he was suspended, which Curry alluded to.

"We did what we're supposed to do," Curry said on the court after the game. "They say Draymond's got a history, so do we. We know how to bounce back."

Game 3 of the Golden State Warriors win over the Sacramento Kings averaged 4.12 million viewers as the series continues to lead the playoffs in viewership.

The Kings win in Game 2 averaged 4.32 million viewers. 

All three games of the series represent a double-digit increase in viewership over the Warriors-Nuggets last season.

Game 3 of the Suns-Clippers averaged 486,000 viewers on NBA TV, though Game 2 averaged 3.86 million viewers.

The two series account for five of the largest audiences of the postseason thus far. 

The NBA suspended Draymond Green for Game 3 in what was widely considered a surprise decision and one in which Joe Dumars defended in multiple interviews with ESPN. Dumars implied that the league took the totality of Green's career and his behavior following the stomping on Domantas Sabonis after his leg was grabbed by Sabonis. 

"The Warriors were shocked and caught off guard last night," said Zach Lowe on his podcast about the reaction of the franchise when they learned of the NBA's decision. "There is some anger within the organization toward the league. There's a sense in the organization that Sabonis is shoving people on offensive rebounds and playing with his elbows out and using the ball as a weapon on offense. 'So of course someone eventually retaliated.' You can give that any validity you want."

The Kings enter Game 3 up 2-0 against the Warriors.