The NBA's Last Two Minute Report confirmed that officials made the correct call when Jonathan Kuminga was assessed a personal foul on Jalen Green on a loose ball scramble, resulting in Green hitting the winning free throws during the Houston Rockets' 91-90 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
A livid Steve Kerr said after the game that the officiating crew, led by crew chief Bill Kennedy, had made an «unconscionable» call that the Warriors head coach had never seen in his NBA career. Kerr argued that officials had allowed physical play up until that foul call with 3.5 seconds left.
Green's free throws sent the Rockets to Las Vegas to play in the NBA Cup semifinals against Oklahoma City on Saturday.
«I'm pissed off,» Kerr said, echoing how his team also felt on late Wednesday night. «I wanted to go to Las Vegas. We wanted to win this Cup and we aren't going because of a loose ball foul, 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line. I've never seen anything like it in my life, and that was ridiculous.»
On the possession that Kuminga fouled Green, Stephen Curry missed a 3-point attempt. A chaotic scramble for the loose ball ensued. Gary Payton II was able to gain possession of the ball on the floor as Fred VanVleet dove for the ball, too. Payton then tried to pass the ball to Kuminga, resulting in Green diving on the ball. The NBA said Kuminga «reaches over Green in an attempt to get to the ball and pulls his shoulder down.»
As for Payton and VanVleet, the NBA determined it was a correct non-call as both made «incidental contact with each other in pursuit of the loose ball.»
«I've never seen a loose ball foul on a jump ball situation, 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line,» Kerr said.
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