Steve Kerr expressed his frustration with game officials after the Golden State Warriors’ 119-115 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. The coach was particularly upset about a late-game incident involving Nuggets guard Christian Braun, who appeared to signal for a timeout after recovering a loose ball despite Denver having no timeouts left. Kerr argued that this should have resulted in a technical foul for the Nuggets, awarding the Warriors a free throw and possession of the ball.
Kerr stated, “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.” Referees, however, did not recognize the timeout signal, leading to a jump ball with just 1.9 seconds left in a game where the Warriors were trailing by four points. Crew chief Tyler Ford explained that they did not see Braun clearly signal for the timeout, which precluded them from making a call.
Despite this contentious moment, Kerr acknowledged that missed calls were not the primary reason for the defeat. He pointed to his team’s inability to close out games, an issue evident in their fifth consecutive loss where they squandered a lead. Golden State held an 11-point lead with six minutes left but allowed the Nuggets to finish with a 21-6 run. Kerr emphasized the need to improve decision-making and execution, highlighting that poor choices in the closing moments have been detrimental to their performance.
The Warriors played without Draymond Green due to calf tightness, which added to their challenges on the court. The reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, dominated the game with a standout performance, scoring 38 points and contributing significantly in other areas.
Currently with a record of 12-8 after a strong start to the season, the Warriors are now looking to regroup as they prepare for upcoming games against Houston and Minnesota. Kerr stressed the importance of making simpler decisions in crucial moments and conveyed optimism that the team could bounce back from this losing streak by refocusing on their fundamentals.
In summary, while the game had a controversial ending and an unfortunate result for the Warriors, it also presented a clear opportunity for growth. By addressing their decision-making issues, the team can aim for improvement and a return to their earlier success.