HOUSTON (AP) 鈥� Golden State coach Steve Kerr said a foul call against his team that led to a loss to Houston on Wednesday night in the NBA Cup was 鈥渦nconscionable鈥� and that an elementary school referee wouldn鈥檛 have made it.
After Stephen Curry missed a 3-pointer with Golden State up a point with 11 seconds to go, Gary Payton II grabbed the offensive rebound, but turned it over with a pass that Jalen Green intercepted. Jonathan Kuminga was then called for a foul against Green while they were on the floor, giving Green a pair of free throws that lifted and a spot in the NBA Cup semifinals.
鈥淭hat is unconscionable,鈥� Kerr said. 鈥淚 mean, I don鈥檛 even understand what just happened.鈥�
Kerr thought it should have either been a jump ball or the Rockets should have been given the timeout they were attempting to call.
鈥淥ur 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,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd that was taken from us by a call that I don鈥檛 think an elementary school referee would have made. Because that guy would have had feel and said: 鈥榊ou know what I鈥檓 not going to decide a game on a loose ball 80 feet from the basket.鈥欌��
Crew chief Billy Kennedy was asked by a pool reporter why the foul was called.
鈥淭he defender makes contact with the neck and shoulder area, warranting a personal foul to be called,鈥� Kennedy said.
Kerr ranted for about two minutes about the officiating after the game and complained about what he believed was a clear foul on Curry that wasn鈥檛 called earlier.
鈥淭he game was a complete wrestling match,鈥� Kerr said. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 call anything. Steph Curry got hit on the elbow plain as day on a jump shot, just clubbed right on there and no call. So, you鈥檝e established that you鈥檙e just not going to call anything throughout the game, it鈥檚 a physical game. Then you鈥檙e going to call a loose ball foul on a jump ball situation with guys diving on the floor with the game on the line?鈥�
Houston snapped a 15-game skid against the Warriors, winning for the first time in the series since Feb. 20, 2020 when James Harden and Russell Westbrook led the Rockets.
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AP NBA:
Kristie Rieken, The Associated Press
