Referee declares controversial foul late in Warriors’ NBA Cup loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steve Kerr was beside himself for several minutes during his postgame press conference about the Warriors’ NBA Cup loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

Team boss Billy Kennedy used far fewer words and gave only one answer to pool reporter Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle after the game at Toyota Center.

The call in question was a foul on Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga with 3.1 seconds left as both teams struggled to secure a loose ball.

FIGS: “Why was a loose ball foul called in a scramble situation 80 feet from the basket in the final seconds?”

KENNEDY: “The defender makes contact with the neck and shoulder area, which warrants a personal foul.”

The foul on Kuminga led to Rockets guard Jalen Green being awarded two free throws, which he made, ultimately giving Houston a 91-90 win over Golden State.

Kerr didn’t hold back when speaking to the media after the loss that eliminated the Warriors from the NBA Cup.

“I have never seen a loose-ball foul on a jump-ball situation 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line,” Kerr said. “I’ve never seen that before. I think I saw it once in college 30 years ago. Never seen it in the NBA. This is unacceptable. I don’t even understand what just happened.

“Loose ball, jump to the floor, 80 feet from the basket and you give a player two free throws to tie the game while people are fighting for the ball. Just give them a break. Give them a time out and let the players decide the game. That’s the way to officiate, especially because the game was a complete wrestling match. They didn’t call anything.

“Steph Curry was clearly hit in the elbow on a jump shot. Just punched straight on the arm – no decision. You have determined that you will simply not call anything during the game. It’s a physical game. You call a loose ball foul in a jump ball situation where guys are jumping around on the floor and the game is on the line. This is a billion dollar industry. Other people’s jobs are at stake. I’m stunned. I’m stunned.

“I give the Rockets credit. They fought back and played great defense all night. But I feel for our boys. Our guys fought back, worked their butts off and deserved to win the game – or at least have a chance for a stop at the end to end the game. And that was taken away from us by a call that I don’t think an elementary school referee would have made, because that guy would have felt and said, “You know what, I’m not going to tie a game.” Ball 80 feet from the basket .’ ”

The stunning loss drops the Warriors to 14-10 on the season. Instead of flying to Las Vegas for the NBA Cup semifinal game, the Warriors will head home and prepare to host old friend Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks for the second time this season.

After Wednesday’s events, it’s safe to say that Kerr and Kennedy will not be inviting each other to their respective holiday parties.

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