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Curry takes responsibility for ejection: I 'put the team in a tough place'

Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry took responsibility for his late-game ejection in Wednesday's 122-120 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Curry was tossed in the fourth quarter for throwing his mouthpiece into the crowd after an ill-advised shot by teammate Jordan Poole. The reigning Finals MVP admitted afterward he allowed his emotions to get the best of him.

"It was a crucial time in the game, and the way that our season has gone, questions about a heightened sense of urgency ... when you want something really bad ... I reacted in a way that put myself out of the game and put the team in a tough place," the 34-year-old told reporters, according to ESPN's Kendra Andrews.

Crew chief Sean Wright confirmed to a pool reporter that Curry's actions constituted an automatic ejection under NBA rules. Curry has been ousted on two previous occasions, with both incidents involving a chucking of his mouthpiece.

Poole disagreed with the referee's decision to eject the eight-time All-Star with just 1:14 remaining in the final frame.

"No reason he should be thrown out in the last three minutes of the game. He's one of the greatest players of all time," Poole said after the contest.

Curry finished with a game-high 34 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals. The Warriors ultimately prevailed without their leader thanks to a last-second basket from Poole.

Golden State moved to .500 with the victory and sits half a game back of the Dallas Mavericks for sixth in the Western Conference.

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