The Golden State Warriors faced a narrow defeat against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 6, 2024, ending the game at 103-102. The match turned contentious when Warriors coach Steve Kerr was ejected with approximately eight minutes remaining after an argument with referees. This incident overshadowed a strong performance from guard Stephen Curry, who led all scorers with 27 points before fouling out.
Kerr’s ejection occurred during a pivotal moment in the game. The Warriors were trailing 81-74 when a controversial block by Clippers forward/center John Collins on a shot from Gary Payton II ignited the coach’s frustration. Following the foul called on Curry during the play, Kerr received a technical foul for his heated disagreement with the referees. It was reported that an alleged missed goaltending call on Collins was the “last straw” for Kerr, as noted by Warriors assistant coach Terry Stotts, who stepped in to conduct the postgame press conference to “save him some money” regarding potential fines from the NBA.
The situation escalated as Kerr attempted to approach the officials, requiring Stotts and Payton to hold him back during the ejection sequence. The Clippers capitalized on the momentum, with Collins making one of two technical free throws, followed by two more from Kris Dunn, extending their lead to ten points.
Despite facing a 13-point deficit with just under five minutes remaining, the Warriors rallied back with a 19-7 run, closing the gap to just one point at 101-100 with less than a minute to go. However, Curry’s sixth foul led to his exit from the game, marking the first time he had fouled out since 2021. Draymond Green managed to score a layup with 33 seconds left, narrowing the score to 103-102. The Clippers’ Jimmy Butler missed a potential game-winning shot in the final moments, ensuring the Warriors’ loss.
Curry finished the game shooting 9 of 23 from the field, including 4 of 14 from beyond the arc. Butler, on the other hand, contributed 24 points for the Clippers, while teammate Kawhi Leonard recorded a notable 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Looking ahead, the Warriors, currently sitting at a record of 19-18, will host the Milwaukee Bucks on January 10, 2024, at 22:00 EST in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the Clippers, with a record of 13-22, will face the New York Knicks on the same day at 19:30 in New York.
