HOUSTON — Following a tough defeat against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in the NBA Cup, Golden State’s head coach Steve Kerr expressed his strong discontent regarding a foul call that led to the Warriors’ loss, labeling it as “unconscionable.” Kerr emphasized that he believed even an elementary school referee would not have made such a call.
With Golden State clinging to a one-point lead and only 11 seconds remaining, Stephen Curry attempted a 3-pointer that missed. Gary Payton II managed to secure the offensive rebound but subsequently turned the ball over when Jalen Green intercepted his pass. In a critical moment, Jonathan Kuminga was called for a foul against Green while they were on the court, allowing Green to shoot two free throws that ultimately lifted Houston to a 91-90 victory, securing their place in the NBA Cup semifinals.
Kerr voiced his frustration, questioning the rationale behind the call: “That is unconscionable. I mean, I don’t even understand what just happened.” He argued that the situation warranted either a jump ball or a timeout for the Rockets, whom he felt deserved a fair chance in the closing moments. “Our guys battled back, played their [expletives] off, and deserved to win that game or at least have a chance for one stop at the end to finish the game,” he lamented. Kerr further criticized the officiating by stating, “That was taken from us by a call that I don’t think an elementary school referee would have made. Because that guy would have had feel and said: ‘You know what? I’m not going to decide a game on a loose ball 80 feet from the basket.’”
In response to the controversy, crew chief Billy Kennedy explained to a pool reporter why the foul was called, stating, “The defender makes contact with the neck and shoulder area, warranting a personal foul to be called.” Kerr, however, took several minutes post-game to express his dissatisfaction with the officiating, noting a specific instance where he believed Curry was obviously fouled without a whistle being blown. “The game was a complete wrestling match,” Kerr remarked, adding that a foul on Curry was clear yet went unpunished. He criticized the inconsistency of the officiating throughout the game, questioning the decision to call a loose ball foul in such a critical situation.
The loss marked a significant turnaround for the Rockets, who finally ended a 15-game losing streak to the Warriors. The last time Houston triumphed in this rivalry was on February 20, 2020, when they were led by stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
