DENVER — Following the Golden State Warriors’ disappointing loss to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night, Steve Kerr confronted referee Tyler Ford and his crew over a critical missed call. With just four seconds remaining, Nuggets guard Christian Braun signaled for a timeout after securing a loose ball; however, Denver had no remaining timeouts, which should have resulted in a technical foul and a free throw for the Warriors. This oversight meant that had Stephen Curry converted the free throw, Golden State would have had a chance to take the lead with just 3.5 seconds left.
“Everyone saw it except the three officials assigned to the game,” Kerr expressed with visible frustration.
The missed call allowed time to continue running until Andrew Wiggins managed to tie the game with just 1.2 seconds on the clock. However, the Warriors ultimately fell short, losing 119-115, marking their fifth consecutive defeat. This results slump has dropped the Warriors’ record from 12-3 to 12-8, leading them on a road trip to face the Houston Rockets instead of returning home to play the Dallas Mavericks for the upcoming NBA Cup quarterfinal.
Kerr took responsibility for the late-game collapse, noting that the Warriors were up by seven with 2:32 left before the Nuggets stormed back with an 11-0 run to seal the game. The coach suggested that the players might be trying too hard, emphasizing the importance of making simple decisions instead of seeking highlight-reel plays.
The coach specifically criticized second-year guard Brandin Podziemski, who has struggled recently, entering a shooting slump that is affecting his overall gameplay. Despite Podziemski’s promising rookie season, the expectations have grown, and Kerr deemed some decisions made during the game, such as attempting a risky alley-oop instead of making a safe pass, as “frankly insane.”
Though he still demonstrated flashes of brilliance with 13 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals, Podziemski’s errors stood out, leading Kerr to publicly remind him of the importance of smart decision-making. This comes on the heels of a significant role shift for Podziemski due to the injury of De’Anthony Melton, who is out for the season.
In response to Kerr’s coaching, Podziemski acknowledged the feedback and remained committed to improving, stating, “He knows he can get on me and I’m not going to respond emotionally.”
As the Warriors move forward, the team’s focus must be on simplifying their approach and harnessing their potential. With Kerr’s guidance and Podziemski’s willingness to adapt, there remains hope that this challenging period can lead to growth and resilience, setting the stage for future successes.
Summary: The Golden State Warriors faced another tough defeat against the Denver Nuggets, losing 119-115. Steve Kerr expressed frustration over a missed refereeing call that had potential game-changing implications and redirected blame towards his team’s late-game performance issues. Notably, second-year guard Brandin Podziemski experienced growing pains as he continues to develop his game. Despite the season’s challenges, there’s optimism for improvement as the team learns from their mistakes and aims to bounce back in upcoming games.