The NBA playoffs can be stressful.
The stress appeared to get to one player for the Golden State Warriors on Monday night during their game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Warriors guard Gary Payton II was a surprise addition to the starting lineup on Monday, as head coach Steve Kerr looked to shake things up and make adjustments in order to tie the series at 2-2 heading into Game 5.
Payton left the floor in the first quarter, leaving fans – and Draymond Green, who turned the ball over – to wonder where he went.
Payton appeared to throw up in his mouth in the middle of the game, somehow managing to hold it in long enough to not vomit on the court.
Payton would go on to leave the game and take a short trip to the locker room before returning. He seemed to be fine for the rest of the game, scoring 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting in 23 minutes.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, the addition of Payton to the starting lineup did not pay off in the form of a win. Golden State heads home for Game 5 facing an imposing 3-1 deficit in the series.
If Payton’s nerves were bad last night, they may be even worse with elimination from the playoffs at stake.
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