Rockets Break Warriors' Streak with Last-Minute Win
The Houston Rockets put an end to a daunting 15-game losing streak against the Golden State Warriors in a nail-biting 91-90 victory, advancing to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas. The win came at a crucial moment, knocking the Warriors out of the NBA Cup and sending shockwaves through the league.
Final Minutes of Drama
During the game's final moments, the Rockets were staring at a seven-point deficit with less than four minutes on the clock. In a remarkable display of resilience and defensive solidity, Houston managed to keep the Warriors scoreless for the last three minutes, while also putting up seven points themselves. This gritty comeback was sparked, in part, by a controversial call that left Warriors' head coach Steve Kerr incensed.
Controversial Foul Call
With just 3.1 seconds remaining, Rockets' Jalen Green found himself fouled by Jonathan Kuminga of the Warriors. Green calmly sunk both free throws, giving Houston the crucial one-point edge. The call stemmed from Kuminga making contact with Green around the neck and shoulder area, a decision the referee, Billy Kennedy, justified post-game. However, Kerr's patience with the officiating hit a breaking point, expressing his frustration emphatically.
"I've never seen a loose ball foul in a jump ball situation 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line," said Kerr, his dissatisfaction palpable. The Warriors' head coach added, "I think I saw it in college one time 30 years ago. Never seen it in the NBA. That is unconscionable."
Denied by Defense
As the final seconds wound down, Golden State had one last attempt to snatch victory back. Brandin Podziemski's shot attempt, however, was blocked by Houston’s Jabari Smith, effectively sealing the win for the Rockets. The Warriors simply couldn't overcome the combination of the Rockets' clutch scoring run and fierce defense.
Kerr's Frustration Up Front
In the aftermath, Kerr did not hold back in his criticism of the officiating decisions. "I feel for our guys. They deserved to win that game or at least have the chance for one stop at the end to finish the game. And that was taken from us by a call that I don't think an elementary school referee would have made," Kerr remarked, his words underscoring the gravity of the lost opportunity.
The game had evolved into a "complete wrestling match," as Kerr described it, questioning the consistency of the calls. "You've established you're not going to call anything throughout the game. It’s a physical game and you're gonna call a loose ball foul in a jump ball situation with guys diving on the floor with the game on the line?" he mused, calling into question the timing and rationale of the officials’ decision-making.
With an evident desire to continue their run in the NBA Cup, Kerr lamented, "I’m pissed off. I wanted to go to Las Vegas. We wanted to win this Cup."
Looking Ahead
As the Rockets prepare to face the Thunder in Las Vegas, they do so with a renewed sense of confidence and momentum, having finally conquered their nemesis in thrilling fashion. Meanwhile, the Warriors will need to regroup, processing both the heartbreak of the loss and the contentious circumstances surrounding it, as they pivot their focus back to the regular season.
The result serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of the sport, where a single moment, decision, or play can change the course of a game, leaving one team triumphant and the other reflecting on what might have been.