Steve Kerr expressed his frustration with the officiating during the Golden State Warriors’ narrow 119-115 defeat to the Denver Nuggets. Following the game, Kerr vehemently criticized the referees for not noticing that Nuggets guard Christian Braun had allegedly signaled for a timeout after recovering a loose ball with just 1.9 seconds left in the game, despite Denver having no timeouts remaining.
Kerr believed that Braun’s action warranted a technical foul, which would have awarded the Warriors a free throw and possession of the ball, potentially giving them a chance to win the game. Instead, the officials opted for a jump ball. “Braun called a timeout. He dove on the floor, he rolled over. Everybody saw it except for the three guys we hire to do the games, and that makes me angry,” Kerr stated.
However, crew chief Tyler Ford explained that the officials did not assess a technical foul because they did not see Braun make a clear signal for a timeout. Braun himself acknowledged he was aware that the team had no timeouts left, clarifying, “No, I did not call a timeout.”
This loss marked the Warriors’ fifth consecutive defeat, compounded by their inability to close out the game after leading by six points with just over two minutes remaining. The Nuggets, having trailed by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter, finished with a remarkable 21-6 run. The Warriors were also affected by the absence of Draymond Green, who was sidelined due to calf tightness and is set to undergo an MRI.
With reigning MVP Nikola Jokic dominating the court with 38 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals, the Warriors struggled to contain the Nuggets even as Stephen Curry delivered a solid performance himself, contributing 24 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds.
Reflecting on the game, Kerr acknowledged that while the missed call was frustrating, it was not the sole cause of their defeat. He pointed out that poor decision-making has led to repeated failures to execute in critical moments, calling attention to the team’s need to improve. “We have to become a better decision-making team. And that’s frustrating right now,” he noted.
As the Warriors prepare to face upcoming games against Houston and Minnesota, there is hope that they can turn things around by focusing on simplified plays and effective decision-making. Their record has dipped from an impressive 12-3 start to 12-8, but the potential for recovery remains.
In light of the challenges faced, the Warriors still possess a talented roster, and with adjustments in strategy and execution, they have the opportunity to reclaim their winning form as they move forward in the season.