In a recent NBA game, the Golden State Warriors faced a narrow defeat against the Houston Rockets, with the final score being 91-90. The game ended dramatically, sparked by a controversial foul call in the last moments that left Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr visibly upset.
With just 3.5 seconds left on the clock and the Warriors leading 90-89, a sequence of events unfolded that changed the game’s outcome. After Warriors star Stephen Curry missed a three-point attempt, teammate Gary Payton II fought for the rebound along with other players. In the scramble for the loose ball, Payton tried to pass it to Jonathan Kuminga. However, Houston’s Jalen Green dove for the ball, resulting in a foul being called against Kuminga. The official ruling deemed his actions unlawful, placing Green at the free-throw line as the Rockets were in the bonus.
Green converted both free throws, giving the Rockets a 91-90 lead and sealing their victory. Post-game, Kerr expressed his disappointment with the call, arguing that such a decision “is unconscionable” in such a critical moment of the game. He further stated it was a rare scenario, recalling that he had only seen similar calls in college basketball many years ago. Kerr was frustrated, voicing that a call like that shouldn’t decide the fate of a professional game.
In response to the officials’ decisions, crew chief Bill Kennedy defended the ruling, explaining that Kuminga’s contact with Green constituted a personal foul. According to Kennedy, the defender made contact with Green’s neck and shoulder area, supporting the decision to award the free throws to Houston.
Following the game, the NBA released its Last 2-Minute Report, which confirmed the call made during the final seconds. The report indicated that Kuminga’s actions of reaching over Green contributed to the foul being called. It also clarified that another play involving Houston’s Fred VanVleet and Payton was correctly judged, confirming that VanVleet had made a clean play on the ball.
The report, while supportive of the officials’ decision, acknowledged missed calls during the game’s closing moments. It highlighted that Dillon Brooks of the Rockets should have been penalized for a defensive three-second violation and that Brandin Podziemski of the Warriors did not receive a call for a five-second violation before inbounding the ball for the Warriors’ final shot attempt.
Despite the report’s findings, the explanations will likely not calm Kerr’s ire, as he may face a fine for his controversial comments regarding the officiating. Coaches are often held to standards when it comes to public criticisms of officiating in professional sports, and retaliation in the form of fines is common.
This game was another reminder of how critical moments can drastically change the outcome of contests and how interpretation of rules plays a significant role in sports. For the Warriors, this defeat was tough to swallow as they fought hard and appeared to have control of the game right up until that final, fraught moment.
As the season progresses, both teams will look to learn and grow from such experiences, with the Warriors eager to bounce back and the Rockets celebrating a hard-fought victory. Amidst the highs and lows of an NBA season, officials will likely remain a topic of fervent discussion, especially when precious wins and losses are on the line, driving the passionate debate among fans and analysts alike.
