Draymond Credits Mom for Teaching Him to ‘feel Clutch My Whole Life'

With the game in the balance on Tuesday night in New Orleans, Draymond Green delivered.

He stripped Anthony Davis as he geared up for a potential game-tying shot, secured the basketball, got fouled, and hit two free throws to give the Warriors a four-point lead with 1.4 seconds remaining.

When is the first time he felt clutch?

"I feel clutch my whole life," Draymond told reporters after the win. "That's how my mom taught me to think."

[POOLE: Draymond records triple-double, but only cares about game-sealing steal]

Draymond recorded his first triple-double of the season -- 12 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists -- and also registered two blocks and four steals.

His final steal was the most important. Was it clean?

"It was definitely clean," Draymond answered. "I hit the ball as he (Davis) was trying to throw his shoulder into me. And that's what happened. And I've seen the replay, which is what I thought happened, really happened.

"Yeah, I thought it was really clean."

On Nov. 19 in Milwaukee, the Warriors led by two points with 10.1 seconds remaining. Draymond stole the inbounds pass to seal victory.

On Nov. 28 against the Hawks, Draymond came up with two stops in the final minute as the Warriors were clinging to a four-point lead.

Has crunch-time defense always been one of his favorite things?

"I didn't like defense as a kid," Draymond said. "In college, my assistant coach Dwayne Stephens always called me like, 'Man, I don't know how you're a great defender.' I was a great help defender in college. I would overhelp a lot also.

"But on-the-ball defense -- it wasn't really a big thing to me. Coach Izzo made us defend but I was more offensive-minded then. But coming into the league, I knew that's how I had to get on the floor. I developed a love for it."

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