In a heated postgame reaction, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr expressed his frustration over officiating after the team suffered a 119-115 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. The controversy arose when Nuggets guard Christian Braun appeared to signal for a timeout after recovering a loose ball with only 1.9 seconds left, despite Denver having no timeouts remaining. Kerr believed this warranted a technical foul against the Nuggets, which would have given the Warriors a free throw and possession, thus potentially altering the game’s outcome.
Kerr lamented that all three referees missed the incident, stating, “Everybody saw it except for the three guys we hire to do the games, and that makes me angry.” According to crew chief Tyler Ford, the officials did not see Braun clearly signal for a timeout, hence no foul was called.
Braun himself denied that he attempted to call a timeout, explaining that he was just fumbling with the ball and did not make a clear signal. The game marked a disappointing continuation for the Warriors, who have now lost five straight games, including previous instances where they relinquished significant leads late in the game.
Despite the loss, Kerr acknowledged the real issue was the team’s failure to close out games, suggesting that the ongoing struggles are related to poor decision-making and execution on the court. The Warriors, once a dominant force this season with a 12-3 record, have seen a sharp drop to 12-8 and are now faced with a critical upcoming series against Houston and Minnesota.
In moments of adversity, it is essential for teams to remember the fundamentals and focus on making simple decisions rather than attempting high-risk plays. If the Warriors can channel their frustrations into lessons learned and rally together, they have the talent and experience to turn their season around. The road ahead is challenging, but with the right mindset, they can reclaim their rhythm and get back to winning.