Steve Kerr Erupts Over Controversial No-Call in Warriors’ Loss to Nuggets
DENVER — Tempers flared in the Mile High City on Tuesday night as Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr unleashed his frustration on the officiating crew following his team’s 119-115 loss to the Denver Nuggets. The fiery postgame scene stemmed from a controversial moment in the final seconds, where Kerr argued that Nuggets guard Christian Braun appeared to signal for a timeout despite Denver being out of them. The missed call, according to Kerr, cost the Warriors a chance to steal the game.
“Braun called a timeout,” Kerr said, his frustration palpable. “He dove on the floor, he rolled over. Everybody saw it except for the three guys we hire to do the games, and that makes me angry. That’s a technical foul. They don’t have a timeout left. We shoot a free throw, we get the ball, we got a chance to win the game.”
Instead of assessing a technical foul on Denver, crew chief Tyler Ford ruled for a jump ball with 1.9 seconds left, leaving the Warriors trailing by four and out of time to mount a comeback. Kerr didn’t hold back in his criticism of the officials, saying, “It’s up to the referees to see [it]. That’s why we have three of them. Somebody’s got to see it. So yeah, that made me mad.”
Officials Respond to the Controversy
After the game, Ford addressed the situation, explaining why no technical foul was called. “Christian Braun never fully or clearly signaled for a timeout,” Ford told a pool reporter. “Therefore a timeout was not recognized.”
Braun himself denied calling for a timeout, though he acknowledged the confusion. “No,” Braun said when asked if he signaled for one. “It might’ve looked like it maybe. I was fumbling the ball on the ground a little bit. My hands moved, but the refs didn’t call it.”
Warriors’ Late-Game Struggles Continue
While the no-call was a flashpoint, Kerr was quick to admit that it wasn’t the sole reason for the Warriors’ fifth consecutive loss. “That’s not why we lost,” Kerr said. “We lost because we didn’t close. Again. This is like the fifth game in a row where we’ve — maybe not all five [losses] — but most of these games in this stretch, we’re not closing, we’re not executing, we’re not making good decisions, and it’s got to improve.”
The Warriors squandered a six-point lead in the final 2:32, allowing Denver to finish the game on a 21-6 run. This collapse followed a similar pattern from recent games, including blowing a 17-point lead against the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 23 and an 18-point third-quarter lead to the Brooklyn Nets on Nov. 25. After starting the season 12-3, Golden State has now fallen to 12-8.
Jokic Dominates as Warriors Miss Draymond Green
Adding to the Warriors’ woes was the absence of Draymond Green, who missed the game due to left calf tightness. Kerr revealed that Green will undergo an MRI on Wednesday. Without their defensive anchor, the Warriors had no answer for reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who torched them with 38 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals.
Meanwhile, Stephen Curry did his best to keep Golden State in the game, finishing with 24 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the Warriors’ late-game miscues and Denver’s relentless surge.
What’s Next for the Warriors?
The loss also had implications for the NBA Cup. Had the Warriors won, they would have hosted the Dallas Mavericks in next week’s quarterfinal. Instead, they’ll now have to travel to Houston for the matchup.
Looking ahead, the Warriors face a back-to-back at home this weekend against Houston and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kerr emphasized the need for his team to clean up their decision-making if they hope to turn things around. “We turned it over three or four times in the last few minutes of the first half and gave up a 12-point lead because we tried to hit home runs,” Kerr said. “And this league is unforgiving. If you think you’re going to get on a highlight reel, show everybody what a special play you can make, it’s going to be a turnover. We got to hit singles, we got to make simple decisions. And when we do that, we’re really good.”
He added, “We have to become a better decision-making team. And that’s frustrating right now. Poor decisions are leading to poor possessions, which is leading to this losing streak.”
Key Takeaways
- The Warriors have now lost five straight games, falling to 12-8 on the season.
- Steve Kerr was livid over a missed technical foul call on Christian Braun in the final seconds.
- Golden State’s late-game execution continues to be a major issue, with blown leads becoming a recurring theme.
- Draymond Green’s absence loomed large as Nikola Jokic dominated with a monster performance.
As the Warriors look to regroup, one thing is clear: they’ll need to find answers fast if they want to stop the bleeding and get back to their winning ways.
Originally Written by: Kendra Andrews
