Steve Kerr Had No Reason to be Upset – NBA

The NBA investigated itself and found no wrongdoing in the late loose ball foul call that cost the Golden State Warriors a trip to Las Vegas to compete for the NBA Cup.

In the final seconds of Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal game against Houston — the Warriors were up 90-89 at the time — Dubs forward Jonathan Kuminga dove at a loose ball at the same time as Rockets guard Jalen Green.

As the two became tied up while fighting for possession, referee Bill Kennedy called a loose ball foul on Kuminga, sending Green to the foul line to score what became the game-winning baskets, 91-90.

Kerr went on an impassioned rant after the game about the whistle, calling it “unconscionable” and said he was left “stunned.”

Kennedy stood by his decision when a pool reporter asked him about it, and the league officially announced its agreement on Friday with the release of the Last Two Minute Report about the game. The whistle was labeled “CC,” for “correct call,” with a note that read “Kuminga (GSW) reaches over Green (HOU) in an attempt to get to the ball and pulls his shoulder down.”

The league did admit that it got a call wrong in the game’s final moments, but it wasn’t one that would have helped the Warriors. In fact, the call would have cost the Dubs the game even sooner, as the NBA found officials missed a five-second violation against Golden State as Brandin Podziemski tried to inbound the ball.

Of course, the cherry on top was the report’s final note that the block on Podziemski’s game-winning shot attempt was clean.

It’s safe to assume that this is not the last Kerr and the Warriors will hear about this particular call. Kerr’s big diatribe about the late call will likely draw a fine for his public criticism of officials.

Kennedy

Kennedy

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