Steve Kerr: “Disappointed with the way we lost control of the game. Disappointed with the officiating.” pic.twitter.com/uj4dPCylXj
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 30, 2019
The Warriors’ 131-130 overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday featured one of the wildest, and most controversial, endings we’ve seen all season.
Down three points with 5.8 seconds left, the Warriors inbounded the ball to Kevin Durant who promptly hit a 3-pointer and was fouled for an apparent and-1 opportunity. Curiously, the officials ruled that Durant was fouled before the shot and waived off the three points.
The Warriors then inbounded the ball again with 4.4 seconds remaining. This time Curry received it, and hit a step-back 3-pointer in the corner to tie the game at 130 with 0.5 seconds left. Curry and his Warriors teammates appeared to taunt the officials after the shot went in.
Omg the Warriors man
Watch this.Warriors down 3. Wolves have a foul to give.
Durant for 4-point play!!?
No.
Okay, just get it to Steph. Who hits his 11th!! 3-pointer of the night pic.twitter.com/jnvp9kvk9H
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) March 30, 2019
1) Kevin Durant doesn’t get the call on a possible four-point play in overtime.
2) Stephen Curry ties the game with a wild 3-pointer, then taunts the ref who didn’t give KD a shooting foul.
(via @warriors)pic.twitter.com/tBjv0rsgxS
— Sporting News NBA (@sn_nba) March 30, 2019
Boogie pulling Curry all the way away from the referee ? pic.twitter.com/a5UjiBqatN
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) March 30, 2019
The game wouldn’t make it to double overtime, however, as Durant was called for a foul on the Wolves’ ensuing inbounds pass. While replays appeared to show Durant tugging on the jersey of Karl-Anthony Towns, the pass didn’t seem to be close to catchable. Towns hit a free throw, giving Minnesota the win.
Interesting call pic.twitter.com/APIW7Z2nyV
— Will Gottlieb (@wontgottlieb) March 30, 2019
After the game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was visibly frustrated by the late game officiating.
“You mean when the lob was going 10 feet over the rim?” Kerr said when asked about the foul call on Durant.
What about the call that eliminated the potential four-point play?
“Did I think (the foul) was before the shot? I just watched the replay. He caught, he shot, and it’s a four-point play. I mean, I don’t know what else to say. Kind of mind-boggling. You go up for a shot, you get fouled — in any league — that’s a good bucket and a free throw. In any league, not just the NBA.”
Based on Durant’s Instagram activity it would appear he also didn’t agree with the call.
KD is big mad ???? pic.twitter.com/TzqdKTzG5N
— Off Ball Steph (@PrimeKerr) March 30, 2019
Steph also didn’t mince words in his postgame comments, sarcastically calling official Mark Kogut “the MVP of the night.”
Steph Curry: “You’d have to ask the MVP of the night, (referee) Mark Kogut.” pic.twitter.com/x3jlOaNflz
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 30, 2019
