Officials admit missing call on play that led to Kerr's ejection

The crew chief for Monday's game between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers admitted officials made a mistake on a non-call that led to Steve Kerr's ejection.

The Warriors head coach was angry that referees missed a goaltending call on Clippers forward John Collins in the fourth quarter of Los Angeles' 103-102 victory at the Intuit Dome. Kerr received two technical fouls and was ejected for directing a fiery tirade at officials.

"The shot by (Gary) Payton hit the backboard prior to being touched by Collins. It should have been ruled a goaltending violation," crew chief Brian Forte admitted in the postgame pool report.

"The only way it could have been reviewed was if it was called on the floor and the Clippers challenged the call, because it did not occur in the last two minutes of the game."

Automatic reviews on incidents like the goaltending non-call can only be triggered in the final two minutes.

Forte also explained why Kerr was assessed two technical fouls: "For the first technical foul, Coach Kerr aggressively approached the official while shouting profanities.

"After the first technical was called, he continued shouting profanities while being held back by his assistant coach. And led to the second technical foul."

Kerr became incensed moments before the missed goaltending call when Steph Curry made a floater with 8:44 left that was waved off after the ball went through the basket. Officials deemed that Curry was fouled on the floor prior to the shot.

"It's usually play on (if it's a made shot)," Curry told ESPN's Anthony Slater. "I've never seen it where it's a delayed call and then 'Oh, it's a foul,' and then, 'Oh, no basket.'"

Forte said, "Curry was grabbed around the hip by Collins prior to the gather. And this was correctly ruled a non-shooting foul."

Curry picked up a fifth foul in transition after the goaltending non-call and eventually fouled out for the first time since 2021. He was forced to sit out the final possession as Jimmy Butler missed a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer that would have won the game for Golden State.

The defeat dropped the Warriors to 19-18 ahead of an upcoming eight-game home stand.