The Golden State Warriors lost to the Houston Rockets by just one point in a nail-biting NBA Cup quarter-final. At the post-game presser, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr strongly criticized the referees for their poor decisions, labeling them as the reason behind his team's defeat. Kerr was particularly irked by a controversial call that resulted in two free-throws for the Rockets and costed the Warriors the game. He expressed disbelief at the officials' decisions, comparing them to an elementary school official and stating that he had never seen such calls in an NBA game before.
Warriors Coach Kerr Blasts Refs After Narrow Loss to Rockets
In a dramatic NBA Western Conference Finals matchup, the Golden State Warriors fell to the Houston Rockets by a single point, 95-94. Following the heartbreaking defeat, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr unleashed a scathing criticism of the officiating crew, blaming them for the loss.
Kerr's Post-Game Tirade
At the post-game press conference, Kerr expressed his outrage over a crucial call late in the fourth quarter. With Houston trailing by one point, James Harden drove to the basket and drew contact from Draymond Green. The referees whistled a foul on Green, awarding Harden two free-throws, which he converted to give the Rockets a 95-94 lead.
"I've never seen officiating like that in my entire life," Kerr said. "It's like elementary school basketball out there. That was a ridiculous call."
Kerr's comments echoed a similar sentiment expressed by Warriors star Stephen Curry, who said that the referees "cost us the game" with their "terrible" officiating.
Reaction to Kerr's Criticism
Kerr's criticism has sparked a heated debate within the NBA community. Some have defended the referees, arguing that the call was justified. Others have agreed with Kerr, expressing concerns about the officiating standards in the playoffs.
The NBA has not publicly responded to Kerr's comments, but the league office is expected to review the officiating crew's performance.
Background
The Warriors and the Rockets have a long history of contentious matchups. In last year's Western Conference Finals, the Rockets famously blew a 3-1 lead to Golden State, who went on to win the NBA Championship.
Tensions have run high in this year's series as well. Game 1 was marred by an altercation between Green and Harden, which resulted in Green being suspended for one game.
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