Rockets End 15-Game Skid Against Warriors in Nail-Biting Victory
The Houston Rockets emerged victorious against the Golden State Warriors with a thrilling 91-90 win, snapping a daunting 15-game losing streak against their Western Conference rivals. The close contest was marked by intense physicality and culminated in a dramatic final sequence that not only secured the Rockets' place against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas but also eliminated the Warriors from the NBA Cup.
Trailing by seven points with less than four minutes left, the Rockets displayed resilience and tenacity. In a stunning comeback, they scored seven consecutive points while holding the Warriors scoreless for the final three minutes. The turning point came with just 3.1 seconds remaining on the clock when Jalen Green, in a crucial play, was fouled by Jonathan Kuminga. Referee Billy Kennedy cited contact with the neck and shoulder area in explaining the call, a decision that was met with significant controversy.
Green, demonstrating composure under pressure, sank both of his free throws, tipping the score in Houston’s favor by a single point. The Warriors had one final chance to reclaim the lead, but Jabari Smith's timely block of Brandin Podziemski's shot sealed their fate and secured the Rockets' victory.
In the wake of the loss, Warriors coach Steve Kerr did not hold back on his dissatisfaction with the officiating, particularly the pivotal call against Kuminga. “I've never seen a loose ball foul in a jump ball situation 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line,” Kerr expressed, channeling his frustration at what he perceived as a rare and inappropriate call. “I've never seen that. I think I saw it in college one time 30 years ago. Never seen it in the NBA. That is unconscionable.”
Kerr's comments did not stop there. He offered a spirited defense of his players, emphasizing his belief that the team deserved at least the opportunity for a defensive stop to preserve their lead. “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.”
The game itself, despite its contentious moments, was characterized by intense physical play, a theme that Kerr highlighted in his critique of the officiating standard applied throughout the match. He remarked, “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?”
Kerr’s frustration was palpable and perhaps compounded by the broader implications of the loss. The Warriors’ aspirations in the NBA Cup were dashed, and Kerr candidly expressed his sentiments about the missed opportunity. “I’m pissed off. I wanted to go to Las Vegas. We wanted to win this Cup,” he admitted, underscoring the competitive stakes of the matchup.
For the Rockets, however, the victory served not only as a respite from a prolonged losing streak against the Warriors but also as an affirmation of their ability to perform under pressure. Despite the physicality and the high stakes, the team capitalized on the Warriors’ late-game struggles and demonstrated a keen ability to seize the moment when it mattered most.
As the Rockets prepare to face the Thunder in Las Vegas, they carry forward the momentum of this hard-fought victory. Meanwhile, the Warriors are left to regroup, reflect, and seek redemption in their upcoming matchups. The game was a classic display of basketball's unpredictable nature, where every call, every shot, and every second can galvanize or devastate.