Warriors Fall Short Against Nuggets in a Controversial Finish
Denver, CO – The Golden State Warriors faced a tough 119-115 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night in a game that ended in controversy. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr openly expressed frustration over a critical missed call by the officials in the final seconds of the game, which he believes could have changed the outcome.
The Disputed Timeout
With just 1.9 seconds left on the clock, Denver guard Christian Braun secured a loose ball and appeared to motion for a timeout. However, the Nuggets were out of timeouts at that point. According to NBA rules, requesting a timeout when none remain results in a technical foul. Such a penalty would have given the Warriors a free throw and possession—potentially offering them a chance to take the game.
Instead, the officiating crew called for a jump ball, prompting an emotional outburst from Kerr, who stated after the game:
“He [Braun] called a timeout. Everyone saw it except for the officials. That’s why we have three referees—someone has to catch that. It’s incredibly frustrating because that could’ve been our opportunity to win.”
Crew chief Tyler Ford, however, explained that no technical foul was assessed because the officials did not clearly see Braun signal for a timeout.
“Christian Braun never fully or clearly signaled for a timeout,” Ford said in a statement to the press. “As a result, no timeout was recognized.”
Braun himself later clarified that he was aware Denver had no timeouts left and denied intentionally signaling for one.
“I was fumbling the ball a little on the ground, but I didn’t call timeout,” Braun said.
A Pattern of Late-Game Struggles
Despite the controversy, Kerr acknowledged that the missed call wasn’t the sole reason for the Warriors’ loss. Golden State, which led by six points with just over two minutes remaining, allowed Denver to close the game on a 21-6 run. This marks the fifth consecutive loss for the Warriors, with recurring issues in closing out games.
“We’re not losing because of one play,” Kerr said. “We’re losing because we’re not executing in the final minutes. Poor decisions are costing us, and we need to address that immediately.”
Standout Performances
- Nikola Jokić, Denver’s reigning MVP, was unstoppable with 38 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals, proving once again why he’s one of the league’s elite players.
- For the Warriors, Stephen Curry contributed 24 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds, while missing the presence of defensive anchor Draymond Green, who sat out with calf tightness.
Green is scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday, and his availability for upcoming games remains uncertain.
Looking Ahead
The Warriors, now 12-8 after a strong 12-3 start, face a crucial back-to-back series at home this weekend against the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Additionally, the team must regroup for their quarterfinal matchup in the NBA Cup, traveling to Houston instead of hosting Dallas as originally anticipated.
“We’ve got to improve our decision-making,” Kerr added. “This league punishes mistakes, and we’re making too many of them at critical moments. It’s time to clean that up.”
Final Thoughts
Golden State fans are left hoping their team can shake off this rough patch and return to their early-season form. As for the controversial timeout play, it serves as another reminder of how pivotal even the smallest moments can be in the high-stakes world of professional basketball.
