Steve Kerr in disbelief over refs’ ‘disappointing’ call to end Warriors game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
When Dillon Brooks’ shot bounced off the backboard with the clock winding down at Mortgage Matchup Center on Thursday night, it looked like the Warriors and Phoenix Suns were heading to overtime tied 98-98.
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But then Moses Moody was whistled for a foul as he went to grab the rebound, and Suns guard Jordan Goodwin sank a free throw with 0.4 seconds left to give Phoenix the 99-98 win. Warriors coach Steve Kerr couldn’t believe that’s what it came down to for a Golden State team that has struggled to close out games as of late.
“Tonight we executed really well,” Kerr told reporters after the game. “It’s hard to believe that the game was decided on that call, you know, on an air ball that hits the side of the backboard, and guys behind the bench told me that Moses got all ball. Everybody’s tangled up … That, to me, it better be a foul to decide the game on a play like that.
“So, disappointing that we didn’t get to go to overtime because I thought our guys executed and did a great job in the last few minutes of giving ourselves a chance.”
The Warriors dropped to 5-10 in clutch games during the 2025-26 NBA season with the loss, and ranked 24th in the league in that category entering Thursday’s game. After the Warriors blew a 14-point lead against the Suns, star guard Steph Curry pointed to other issues other than the final call of the game — concerns that have plagued Golden State all the way to its current 13-15 record.
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“Same story. Turnovers. Offensive rebounds,” Curry told reporters after the game. “And especially on the road, it’s hard to give teams momentum. You give them belief, they start hitting shots.”
The Warriors certainly could use some belief of their own right now. And while Kerr and Co. might have had some down the stretch on Thursday, a questionable call left the coach scratching his head.
