Warriors’ Steve Kerr furious with refs over missed Nuggets timeout call

DENVER — A livid Steve Kerr screamed at officers following Golden State’s 119-115 loss at Denver on Tuesday evening, saying the crew didn’t see that Nuggets guard Christian Braun signaled for a timeout after securing a unfastened ball with 1.9 seconds left — regardless of Denver being out of timeouts.

Kerr argued that Denver ought to have been assessed a technical foul, which might have given the Warriors a free throw and possession of the ball. As a substitute, crew chief Tyler Ford referred to as for a leap ball with 1.9 seconds remaining within the sport and the Warriors trailing by 4.

“Braun referred to as a timeout,” Kerr stated. “He dove on the ground, he rolled over. Everyone noticed it apart from the three guys we rent to do the video games, and that makes me offended. That is a technical foul. They do not have a timeout left. We shoot a free throw, we get the ball, we acquired an opportunity to win the sport.

“They [the officials] all informed me they did not see it. … It is as much as the referees to see [it]. That is why we now have three of them. Any individual’s acquired to see it. So yeah, that made me mad.”

Ford informed a pool reporter after the sport that the Nuggets weren’t assessed a technical foul as a result of not one of the officers noticed Braun clearly sign for a timeout.

“Christian Braun by no means absolutely or clearly signaled for a timeout,” Ford stated. “Due to this fact a timeout was not acknowledged.”

Braun stated he knew his group did not have a timeout remaining as a result of Denver coach Michael Malone and his workers talked about it.

“No,” Braun stated when requested if he referred to as timeout. “It’d’ve seemed prefer it perhaps. I used to be fumbling the ball on the bottom slightly bit. My palms moved, however the refs did not name it.”

It was a irritating ending for the Warriors, who misplaced their fifth consecutive sport by blowing a six-point lead within the remaining 2:32. Denver trailed Golden State by 11 with 6:13 left however completed the sport on a 21-6 run.

The Warriors performed with out Draymond Inexperienced, who was sidelined by left calf tightness and can endure an MRI on Wednesday, in line with Kerr.

With Inexperienced watching from the bench, the Warriors could not cease reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who completed with 38 factors, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals.

Stephen Curry had 24 factors, 11 assists and seven rebounds for the Warriors, who now must journey to Houston subsequent week for a quarterfinal NBA Cup sport. Had the Warriors received Tuesday, they might’ve hosted the Dallas Mavericks subsequent week as a substitute.

“That is not why we misplaced,” Kerr stated of the Braun play. “We misplaced as a result of we did not shut. Once more. That is just like the fifth sport in a row the place we have — perhaps not all 5 [losses] — however most of those video games on this stretch, we’re not closing, we’re not executing, we’re not making good choices, and it is acquired to enhance.”

The Warriors blew a 17-point lead within the remaining 13:55 in a loss at San Antonio on Nov. 23. They adopted that up by squandering an 18-point third-quarter result in the Brooklyn Nets at residence on Nov. 25.

After beginning the season 12-3, Golden State is now 12-8 and has a back-to-back at residence this weekend in opposition to Houston and Minnesota.

“We turned it over three or 4 instances in the previous couple of minutes of the primary half and gave up a 12-point lead as a result of we tried to hit residence runs,” Kerr stated. “And this league is unforgiving. In case you assume you are going to get on a spotlight reel, present all people what a particular play you may make, it is going to be a turnover. We acquired to hit singles, we acquired to make easy choices. And once we do this, we’re actually good.

“… We now have to turn into a greater decision-making group. And that is irritating proper now. Poor choices are resulting in poor possessions, which is resulting in this shedding streak.”