Steve Kerr rips referees after controversial foul call ends Golden State’s NBA Cup run

After the game, Kerr ripped the officiating crew for a call that ultimately prevented his team from advancing in the NBA Cup. Here’s what happened and what Kerr said in response.

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Warriors-Rockets ending, explained
With under 1:20 remaining in regulation, the Warriors trailed 90-84. A 3-pointer from Fred VanVleet, a few stops and a layup from Alperen Sengun cut the deficit to one point with 27.2 seconds remaining.

There was a 3.2-second differential between the game clock and shot clock, and Houston elected to play it out rather than intentionally foul Golden State. Stephen Curry failed to connect a step-back 3-pointer with 12.5 seconds remaining and both teams were initially unable to wrangle the loose ball. Gary Payton II dove on the ball and attempted to pass rather than call a timeout, allowing Jalen Green to dive for a steal.

As Green dove on the ball, Kuminga was the second to make a play. Members of the Rockets desperately attempted to call a timeout, and once a whistle was blown, most thought it would be a Houston timeout or a jump ball. Instead, Kuminga was whistled for the contact made as he fell over Green.

Here’s the play in its entirety:

HOUSTON HAS THE LEAD AFTER THIS WILD SEQUENCE 😱 pic.twitter.com/vg6xPLZUBx

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 12, 2024
Play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes called the sequence “unbelievable,” and the reactions from Kerr and Warriors guard Buddy Hield speak volumes.

Steve Kerr and Buddy Hield react to foulNBA
After Green sank both free throws to give Houston a one-point lead, Golden State’s final attempt to win — a 3-pointer from second-year guard Brandin Podziemski — was blocked by Jabari Smith Jr., securing a Rockets win.

As expected, the final sequence was a topic of discussion postgame.

MORE: Mavericks learning same hard lesson as Warriors about Klay Thompson

Steve Kerr rips officials after controversial foul call
When speaking with reporters postgame, Kerr spent nearly two minutes ripping the officials’ decision to call a foul on Kuminga. After describing the foul as “unconscionable,” Kerr criticized the officials’ consistency throughout the game and their feel for the situation.

“[Our chance to win] 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.'”

“I don’t even understand what just happened”

The Guys reacted to Steve Kerr’s postgame comments after the late-game drama 👀 pic.twitter.com/cGBZTlTToT

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 12, 2024
With the loss Kerr and the Warriors will have another meeting with the Mavericks, who also lost in the NBA Cup Quarterfinals. In addition to preparing for Dallas, Kerr may also need to prepare for a league memo coming his way.

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