Kerr on Westbrook non-travel: 'The way it goes'
OAKLAND, Calif. — Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s shouting suggestion for a traveling call on Russell Westbrook was ignored on a critical possession in the final minute of Monday’s Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
The Oklahoma City Thunder led by three points when Westbrook, defended tightly by Klay Thompson, picked up his dribble after crossing halfcourt.
Referee Monty McCutchen awarded Westbrook a timeout with 17.2 seconds remaining despite the All-Star point guard dragging his pivot foot, prompting Kerr to animatedly make the traveling motion and shout for the call while standing only feet away.
“I didn’t talk to the refs about it,” said Kerr, who crouched in front of McCutchen with an incredulous smirk on his face after the play. “I thought he walked, but it wasn’t called, so that’s the way it goes.”
After the timeout, Westbrook was immediately fouled and hit one of two free throws to make it a two-possession game. The Thunder emerged with a 108-102 win at Oracle Arena.
NBA senior vice president of replay and referee operations Joe Borgia acknowledged in a postgame interview on NBA TV that a traveling violation should have been called on Westbrook.
“The officials, no one could get in a good position to see him drag that pivot foot,” Borgia said. “It’s an unfortunate miss, but so much going on in the play, the speed of it, and officiating is about getting angles and sometimes you just can’t get them, and they did not get a great angle on that play.”
Westbrook kept his analysis of the controversial no-call to a minimum.
“I just play until I hear the whistle,” said Westbrook, who had 27 points, 12 assists, seven steals and six rebounds to lead the Thunder to a comeback from a 13-point halftime deficit.
The Thunder benefitted twice from incorrect no-calls in the final minute of their conference semifinals series win over the San Antonio Spurs. As was the case in Monday’s victory, Oklahoma City was protecting a one-possession lead on both occasions in the conference semifinals.
