Sources: Kings' late foul was error, not tanking
Why it matters: The NBA is investigating the Kings' late-game foul, potentially leading to fines for the organization.
- Kings coach Doug Christie called for a foul on Seth Curry with 3:15 remaining, despite being in the penalty and leading by one point, due to a miscalculation about the Warriors being in the bonus and a desire to use a timeout.
- Draymond Green publicly criticized the foul, suggesting it was a tanking tactic and calling for fines against organizations for such moves, intensifying the debate around the NBA's tanking epidemic.
- Kings sources adamantly deny tanking, stating the coaches and players intended to win the game, even as the team is without key veterans like Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, and is tied for the league's fourth-worst record at 21-59.
The Sacramento Kings' late-game foul against the Golden State Warriors, leading to a loss, was a strategic miscalculation by coach Doug Christie, not an intentional tanking effort, according to Kings sources. This contradicts Warriors forward Draymond Green's insinuation that the foul was a deliberate tanking move, despite Sacramento's position for a high draft pick and the absence of key veterans.
