Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was ejected late Monday night after angrily confronting officials during a controversial sequence that defined the Warriors’ narrow 103–102 defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The dramatic moment unfolded in the closing stages at the Intuit Dome. A driving layup attempt by Gary Payton II appeared to strike the backboard before being swatted away by Clippers forward John Collins. Despite visible reactions from both benches, officials declined to call goaltending.
Kerr immediately stormed onto the court, delivering an animated protest toward the referees. Within seconds, he was assessed a technical and ejected with more than seven minutes still remaining, leaving Golden State without its head coach during a critical stretch.
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The scene marked a rare loss of composure from Kerr, who is widely known for his calm sideline presence and championship résumé. Replay footage suggested the ball did touch the glass, and even the Clippers crowd briefly fell silent as play continued. Kerr clearly felt the moment demanded intervention, but his outburst failed to reverse the call and only heightened the tension of an already tight contest.
An unexpected layer of drama came from the broadcast booth. Rap icon Snoop Dogg, appearing as a guest commentator on Peacock, narrated Kerr’s reaction in real time. His humorous and perfectly timed commentary quickly went viral, drawing widespread praise from viewers and adding a surreal twist to the officiating controversy.
Warriors Show Fight, but Frustration Lingers
Despite the upheaval, Golden State responded with resilience. Star guard Stephen Curry defended his coach after the game, focusing on the team’s response rather than the missed call.
“Coach did the right thing,” Curry said. “We responded the right way and gave ourselves a chance to win.”
With Kerr unavailable for postgame duties, assistant coach Terry Stotts addressed the media, injecting humour into the tense situation. “I’m up here because I’m saving Steve Kerr some money,” he joked.
The Warriors nearly completed a late rally, but the one-point defeat added another frustrating chapter to a season marked by uneven performances. The Clippers escaped with the win, yet the contest was largely overshadowed by the sideline drama that left Golden State lamenting what might have been.