The conclusion of the Golden State Warriors’ 97-84 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at Chase Center on Friday night took a dramatic turn in the closing moments.
In what had been a relatively uneventful game, tensions flared as the clock wound down. Hornets’ Miles Bridges took offense when Warriors’ guard Lester Quinones attempted a layup, seemingly disregarding the game’s outcome already being decided.
Quinones’ decision to take the shot was likely influenced by the one-second difference between the game clock and the shot clock. Nevertheless, Bridges reacted strongly, resulting in a goaltending call against him.
This sparked a physical altercation between Quinones and Bridges, prompting both teams to rush onto the court, converging under the Warriors’ basket. Amidst the chaos, coaches Steve Kerr and Steve Clifford intervened, attempting to calm the situation.
The commotion escalated further when Grant Williams, a familiar antagonist for the Warriors, engaged in a verbal exchange with Draymond Green from the bench.
"If there's a [shot-clock] differential, guys should always keep playing … that shouldn't offend anybody."
Kerr shares his thoughts on the play at the end of the game that caused tempers to flare 👀 pic.twitter.com/N2irbS8fqW
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) February 24, 2024
Following a prolonged review by the referees, Quinones received two technical fouls, while Bridges and Williams each received one. Williams was subsequently ejected from the game.
Reflecting on the incident post-game, Kerr expressed his confusion over the Hornets’ reaction, emphasizing his team’s adherence to playing until the final buzzer in situations with a shot clock differential.
Meanwhile, as Williams exited the court, he humorously waved goodbye to the Warriors’ bench, adding a touch of levity to the tense atmosphere.
Quinones, recently having his contract converted to a standard NBA deal, contributed five points in his ten minutes on the court.
In the aftermath, Warriors’ stars Green and Steph Curry engaged in discussions with Hornets Seth Curry and Bridges, presumably to diffuse any lingering tensions.
The Warriors and Hornets are set to face each other again on March 29th at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, promising another intriguing matchup following this heated encounter.
