Steve Nash misses huge opportunity to challenge call in Nets loss to Warriors
In a game without Kevin Durant and James Harden, the Brooklyn Nets still managed to go down to the wire with Golden State. Kyrie Irving led the Nets with 32 points but a key foul call against him in the final seconds altered the course of the game.
Brooklyn did everything that it could to claw its way back after being down by as many as 19 points but the Nets were let down by the officials at the end.
It started when Steph Curry used a non-basketball move to draw a foul against Kessler Edwards with less than two minutes to play. The rookie jumped into the air to defend a possible shot by Curry, who saw it as an opportunity to throw himself into Edwards with the hope of drawing a foul call (in front of Harden on the bench).
The officials forgot about the new rule that the NBA implemented before the season, Steve Nash didn’t challenge it, and Curry made a trip to the free-throw line to push Golden State’s lead to five.
A minute later, the Warriors held a 107-106 lead and Jordan Poole was inbounding the ball with nine seconds left. Klay Thompson, who was being guarded by Irving, tried to get open and ran towards Poole on the sideline but lost his footing and fell on his own accord.
The officials whistled Irving for the foul and Nash once again didn’t challenge the call. Because the call was away from the ball before the inbounds pass, Curry stepped to the line and extended the Warriors’ lead to two.
Steve Nash said "a little bird" told him not to challenge the away from the play foul on Kyrie Irving, and instead opted to preserve the Nets' last timeout pic.twitter.com/b4AaBRYCXF
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) January 30, 2022
Steve Nash explains why he didn’t challenge key call in Brooklyn Nets’ loss.
At the start of Nash’s postgame presser, he was asked immediately about his decision to not challenge the foul call on Irving. The coach paused for five seconds before saying, “a little bird said don’t challenge.”
Nash then elaborated and said that he was told by the officials that it was 100% a foul.
Nash said he was told by the officials that it was absolutely a foul by Kyrie on Klay at the end. That is why he chose not to challenge the play.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) January 30, 2022
After receiving that explanation, Nash knew that the officials wouldn’t overturn the call so he decided to keep the timeout.
If he did challenge the call and it was overturned, it would’ve been a game-changer for the Nets. Irving had just knocked down a 27-foot 3-pointer to keep Brooklyn in the game but fans were robbed of a potential game-winning shot from him.
KAI 😱 pic.twitter.com/ySRfSbMAVt
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 30, 2022
The loss is on the Nets, not the officials, but a couple of questionable calls certainly swayed in the favor of Golden State down the stretch. It would’ve been a huge morale boost for the Nets to leave Chase Center with a win, especially since Brooklyn has to face the 39-9 Suns next.
Sigh. Thank you, officials. Thank you, Nash. Let’s hope that Tuesday is a better night.
