It was a tense loss for the Warriors, who allowed the Rockets to go on a seven-point run at the end of the game which dropped them from having a six-point lead to losing by one point. The defensive miscommunications at the end of the game cost them, especially late threes from Jabari Smith Jr. and Fred VanVleet to help the Rockets overcome a poor offensive night.

Hield had 15 points (6-12 FG), two steals, and three blocks in the loss, having a strong two-way performance. Gary Payton II (2-4 FG) remained an aggressive defender with four points, seven rebounds, and two steals, while Brandin Podziemski’s 30 minutes on the court brought him eight points (3-9 FG), five rebounds, and two steals.

The trio amongst them picked up seven steals, but they clearly weren’t on the same page at the end of this rough loss. Golden State has gone 3-7 in their last 10 games, with this loss pulling them 1.5 games behind the No. 4 seed Dallas Mavericks. The Rockets are consolidating their place as the No. 2 seed in the Conference, currently tied with the Memphis Grizzlies for that spot.

Steve Kerr Blames The Referees

The Warriors had the game won with a 90-89 score in the final few seconds before the Rockets tried corraling a loose ball, prompting Draymond Green to try and get a game-winning steal on Jalen Green. Instead, Draymond aggressively covered Jalen to ensure he couldn’t pass the ball out from being on his back, leading to the referees calling a foul on the Warriors forward, sending Jalen to the free throw line.

The two made free throws from the Rockets guard put the nail in the coffin, as Podziemski would get blocked on a game-winning shot attempt. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr blamed the referees for giving that call and costing the Bay Area franchise the game.

“I’ve never seen a loose ball foul on a jump ball situation 80 feet from the basket, with the game on the line. I’ve never seen that. Think I saw it in college one time, 30 years ago. Never seen it in the NBA. That is unconscionable. I don’t even understand what just happened.”

“Loose ball, diving on the floor 80 feet from the basket and you’re going to give a guy two free throws to decide the game when people are scrambling for the ball? Just give them a timeout. Let the players decide the game. That’s how you officiate, especially because the game was a complete wrestling match.

He also criticized the referees for missing calls earlier in the game like Stephen Curry being high-fived on a three-point attempt. However, Rockets fans do believe that the referees showed some bias towards the Warriors by reviewing an obvious foul committed by Draymond earlier in the quarter instead of awarding a flagrant one.

Referees have been criticized a lot in recent weeks, but that doesn’t change the outcome. Kerr over-tinkered with his rotation and didn’t have a cohesive identity in the fourth quarter, something the Rockets used to their advantage and the win.