Kerr explains why the Warriors didn’t foul Holmgren at the buzzer-beater originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors added another chapter to the NBA’s age-old debate over whether or not to foul in the final seconds of a game with a three-point lead.
Golden State chose not to foul Chet Holmgren in the final seconds of regulation in their 130-123 overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night at Chase Center, and the rookie center left them with a game-winning 3 -Points throw pay another five minutes.
Immediately after the loss, Warriors coach Steve Kerr explained his reasoning for not committing a foul with 1.6 seconds left.
“We didn’t want to call a foul unless it was a clear foul because at that point, when someone catches – I’ve seen a lot of games where you foul early and the guy still gets given a shooting foul, so you have to “Be really careful,” Kerr told reporters. “So we switched and [Andrew Wiggins] I have a good challenge. Chet just made an incredible record.”
Wiggins, who was guarding Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the inbound pass, switched to Holmgren, but the 7-footer rifled the shot forward over the Warriors’ outstretched arms.
“I tried,” Wiggins told reporters. “He is tall.”
Wiggins didn’t intend to intentionally foul Holmgren before he could get the shot off.
“You could foul, but I felt like he was going to turn around and shoot, so it was like he was going to shoot it or three free throws, so I just tried to put a hand up,” Wiggins said.
Holmgren’s buzzer-beater came shortly after Wiggins hit a three-pointer with 1.6 seconds left in regulation.
For a few minutes, it seemed like Wiggins would be the Warriors’ hero in his best game of the 2023-24 NBA season.
But his big game was spoiled by one of the brightest young NBA stars.
“This is the NBA,” Wiggins said. “While there is still time, you never know what can happen. There are a lot of good players in this league and Chet had a great game.”
Wiggins and the Warriors (6-8) have now lost six straight games, including the last five at Chase Center.
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