By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Georgian player, who is well-known for his physically challenging game style, appeared to slide under the feet of Kawhi Leonard while the latter was taking a shot in the third quarter of their Western Conference Finals Game 1.
This caused Leonard to fall down on the foot of the Warriors center and twist his already injured ankle, in his first game after suffering said injury.
Fans on social media burst with spiteful comments on Pachulia’s “unsportsmanship”, while the player defended himself by saying “I had to challenge the shot”. “That’s really stupid,” Pachulia said of the criticism. “I did my part. I had to challenge the shot. … I saw my teammate was behind the screen, and I had to challenge the shot. That’s what I did. I turned around for the rebound, and that was it. I hate anybody coming down with an injury. I’m an athlete, too, so I know how it feels.”
Even Leonard didn’t want to accuse Pachulia for what had happened. “Did he step under it? Like, on purpose?” Leonard said. “No. He was contesting the shot, the shot clock was coming down. I’ll have to see the play.”
Watch the incident between the two players: