Kings’ Late-Game Foul Ruled Coaching Misstep, Not Intentional Tanking
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The NBA is examining a sequence in the Sacramento Kings’ 110-105 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday that team sources describe as a coaching error by interim head coach Doug Christie rather than an effort to lose intentionally.
With 3:15 remaining and Sacramento ahead 101-100 at Golden 1 Center, Christie instructed forward Doug McDermott to foul guard Seth Curry. The Kings were already in the penalty, sending the 86.4% career free-throw shooter to the line. Curry converted one of two attempts, tying the game.
According to sources familiar with the huddle, Christie wanted to stop play to preserve a timeout he would lose once the clock dipped below three minutes. He misjudged the Warriors’ bonus situation and selected a high-percentage shooter instead of a less reliable option.
Golden State closed the contest on a 9-2 run, dropping Sacramento to 21-59 and into a tie with the Utah Jazz for the NBA’s fourth-worst record. The position keeps the Kings in range for a top pick in June’s draft.
The misplay drew attention after Warriors forward Draymond Green, discussing what he called a league-wide “tanking epidemic,” cited the decision to foul Curry as suspicious. “I saw a team tonight foul Seth Curry with three minutes to go for no reason,” Green told reporters. “I get fined when I do wrong. Fine the hell out of people.” He later urged heavier organizational penalties for blatant attempts to lose.
Sacramento has been without several high-salary veterans down the stretch. Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and De’Andre Hunter underwent season-ending surgeries, while DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook were inactive Tuesday. Despite that, team officials insist the coaching staff and active roster are competing to win and that the late foul stemmed solely from a tactical miscalculation.
The Kings have won seven of their last 16 games, moving ahead of the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards in the standings. Asked recently about the topic, Christie said, “Tanking is the last thing I’d do. I respect the game too much. These young men, in my opinion, when you do things like that, it hurts them.”
Source: ESPN
