Steve Kerr Blasts Officials After Controversial Call Costs Warriors NBA Cup Semifinal Spot
HOUSTON — The Golden State Warriors’ hopes of advancing to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas were dashed in dramatic and controversial fashion Wednesday night, and head coach Steve Kerr was absolutely livid about it. The Warriors fell 91-90 to the Houston Rockets, and Kerr didn’t hold back in his postgame comments, calling out the officiating crew for a decision he described as “ridiculous” and “unconscionable.”
“I’m pissed off,” Kerr said, his frustration mirroring the mood in the Warriors’ locker room. “I wanted to go to Las Vegas. We wanted to win this Cup, and we aren’t going because of a loose ball foul, 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life, and that was ridiculous.”
The game’s decisive moment came in the final seconds. With the Warriors clinging to a one-point lead, Stephen Curry missed a three-point attempt, sparking a chaotic scramble for the loose ball. Gary Payton II managed to secure the rebound while on the floor, but Houston’s Fred VanVleet slid on top of him. Payton attempted to pass the ball to Jonathan Kuminga, but Kuminga and the Rockets’ Jalen Green both dove for the ball. That’s when the whistle blew, and Kuminga was called for a personal foul with just 3.5 seconds remaining. Kerr could only watch in disbelief.
Green stepped to the line and calmly sank both free throws, giving the Rockets a 91-90 lead. On the Warriors’ final possession, Curry was smothered by defenders and passed to rookie Brandin Podziemski, whose corner three-point attempt was blocked by Jabari Smith Jr., sealing the win for Houston. The victory snapped a 15-game losing streak for the Rockets against the Warriors and sent Houston to the NBA Cup semifinals, where they’ll face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Kerr’s Fury Boils Over
After the game, Kerr didn’t mince words, directing his ire at the officiating crew led by Bill Kennedy. The Warriors coach was particularly incensed because the game had been officiated with a physical, let-them-play approach up until that point.
“I’ve never seen a loose ball foul on a jump ball situation, 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line,” Kerr said. “I think I saw it in college one time 30 years ago. Never seen it in the NBA. That is … unconscionable. I don’t even understand what just happened. Loose ball, diving on the floor, 80 feet from the basket, and you’re going to give a guy two free throws to decide the game when people are scrambling for the ball. Just give them a timeout and let the players decide the game. That’s how you officiate.”
Kerr continued, “Especially because the game was a complete wrestling match. They didn’t call anything. So you’ve established you’re just not going to call anything throughout the game. It’s a physical game. And call a loose ball foul on a jump ball situation with guys diving on the floor? With the game on the line? This is a billion-dollar industry. You got people’s jobs on the line.”
When asked about the call, Kennedy explained to a pool reporter, “The defender makes contact with the neck and shoulder area, warranting a personal foul to be called.”
Warriors’ Late-Game Struggles
While the controversial call dominated the postgame discussion, the Warriors also had opportunities to close out the game. Golden State (14-10) held a six-point lead late in the fourth quarter but failed to score in the final three minutes. Curry missed a stepback three-pointer with 11.1 seconds left, setting the stage for the chaotic sequence that led to the foul on Kuminga.
Curry, who was visibly frustrated after the game, said, “I haven’t seen the replay, but … if you’re telling me it was a clear foul, I’ll shut up, but I don’t think that’s the case. Was it? There’s indecision in the group, so that means then let the game play out and let us decide it and not two free throws, 90 feet from the basket.”
Other Controversial Moments
The Warriors also took issue with a no-call earlier in the fourth quarter. With 8:14 remaining and Golden State up six, Curry attempted a 21-foot jumper that fell well short of the basket. Curry and Kerr argued that Aaron Holiday had fouled Curry on the shot, but no whistle was blown. Curry later explained that official Mousa Dagher told him the ball had already been released when Holiday made contact with his hand or wrist.
“I am like, if I shoot an 18-footer and I miss it by six feet, then either you tell me he hit the ball or it’s a foul,” Curry said. “I have never shot an 18-footer [that went] 12 feet. And they go down and [Tari] Eason hits a 3 in the corner. That is a huge swing.”
Looking Ahead
The Warriors were highly motivated to win the NBA Cup in its second season, but instead, they were left to stew in the visitor’s locker room at Toyota Center while the Rockets celebrated. This marks the second time in eight days that Kerr has publicly questioned a late-game officiating decision. On Dec. 3, Kerr argued that Denver’s Christian Braun had signaled for a timeout the Nuggets didn’t have during a 119-115 loss, but the officials ruled otherwise.
“I am stunned,” Kerr said after Wednesday’s loss. “I give the Rockets credit. They battled back. They played great defense all night. But I feel for our guys. Our guys battled back, played their asses off and deserved to win that game or at least have a chance for one stop at the end to finish the game. And that was taken from us by a call that I don’t think an elementary school referee would’ve made because that guy would’ve had feel and said, you know what? I’m not going to decide a game on a loose ball, 80 feet from the basket.”
Originally Written by: Kendra Andrews
