Klay Thompson Speaks on Timofey Mozgov's Pick in Game 3 of 2016 NBA Finals

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson briefly left Wednesday's Game 3 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half with a bruised thigh after taking a hard screen from center Timofey Mozgov.  

Asked about the screen after the game, Thompson called out Mozgov for what he perceived to be a "dirty" play.

"I didn't get it. I don't know. I'm guarding Kyrie [Irving], running full-speed downhill. I just don't know who is trying to set a pick on me in the middle of the key," Thompson said, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. "If it's on the perimeter, I understand. But [it] didn't make sense to me."

However, on Thursday, Thompson walked back his comments, telling reporters, "I don't think he meant to do it maliciously. I'm not going to hold a grudge. It's basketball."

Thompson added, "My thigh is just sore... As I watched the replay, (the Mozgov play) might have just been bad luck."

Mozgov was called for an illegal screen on the play but wasn't assessed a flagrant foul. Thompson returned after a brief trip to the locker room, scoring 10 points in 31 minutes. He said he will not practice Thursday but is not expected to miss Friday's Game 4. 

“Luckily for us, we’ve got a day off. I’ve got to take the day off tomorrow and get it healthy. It’s the Finals, so you can’t keep me out of it," Thompson said, per Sam Amick of USA Today. "But I rewatched (the play), and I was confused why he’s trying to set a screen in the key when we’re both running full-speed down the middle. It seemed kind of dirty, (and) to stick his knee out, too. But that’s basketball.”

Thompson is averaging 12.0 points on 36.8 percent shooting through the first three games of the Finals—numbers that pale in comparison to his regular-season and playoff averages. The Cavaliers have done an excellent job of limiting Thompson and Stephen Curry, who scored 19 points in the 120-90 loss.

Of course, the irony of a member of the Warriors publicly calling out a questionable on-court action is not lost on anyone. Forward Draymond Green is on the precipice of a mandated suspension should he receive another flagrant foul or two technicals over the remainder of the playoffs.

Green's actions were called into question after he swung his leg and hit Oklahoma City Thunder big man Steven Adams in the groin during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors, of course, went out of their way to defend Green at the time.

Here's a video of Mozgov's pick:

Nothing Mozgov did during the play seems egregious. The reason he was called for the foul was because he was late to his spot. Irving got into his action quicker than Mozgov was expecting, leaving the lurching center struggling to get into position. Mozgov's leg didn't stick out in a way to purposefully clip Thompson's thigh; he just wasn't fully set as Thompson was passing through.

The NBA hasn't said whether it is reviewing the play, but it seems unlikely. It was mostly just a case of bad timing. 

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.