Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr ejected after ranting at referee

The incident took place in the fourth quarter with Golden State trailing 74-81. Gary Payton II attempted a layup but was blocked by Clippers forward John Collins. Payton and the Warriors bench appealed for a goaltending call, but the referees waved it off.

Moments later, Kerr confronted the officials and had to be held back by assistant coach Terry Stotts and Payton. The referees then issued Kerr two technical fouls, resulting in his automatic ejection. As he headed to the tunnel, Kerr continued to argue the decision.

Despite losing their head coach, the Warriors pushed for a comeback. After leading 81-74, the Clippers extended the score to 94-81. Golden State responded with a nine-point run to cut the deficit to 94-90. However, the Clippers held on to secure the 103-102 win and strengthen their position in the standings.

Stephen Curry was the standout player for Golden State. The 37-year-old guard scored a game-high 27 points, along with six assists and four rebounds, but it was not enough to avoid defeat. Late in the game, Curry fouled Kris Dunn with 42 seconds remaining while the Clippers led 101-100. Dunn converted both free throws, and the Warriors managed only two more points before the final buzzer.

The loss prevented Golden State from closing the gap on the Phoenix Suns. The Warriors remain on 19 wins and 18 losses, holding eighth place in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City Thunder continue to lead the conference with a 30-7 record, despite a 124-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets earlier in the day.

Golden State will next face the Milwaukee Bucks on 8 January, followed by games against the Sacramento Kings on 10 January, the Atlanta Hawks on 12 January and the Portland Trail Blazers on 14 January. The Warriors will be aiming to pick up key wins to improve their position in the standings.