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Referee admits incorrect goaltending call that led to fiery Steve Kerr ejection

Referee admits incorrect goaltending call that led to fiery Steve Kerr ejection originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr unleashed on officials early in the fourth quarter of Golden State’s 103-102 loss to the Clippers on Monday at Intuit Dome, when the referees missed a goaltending call on Los Angeles.

Kerr received double technical fouls during the tirade and was ejected, but after the game, crew chief Brian Forte admitted referees did indeed miss the call in an interview with Pool Reporter Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.

Forte detailed what led to Kerr’s ejection and why the uncalled goaltending wasn’t reviewed by officials.

AZARLY: What did Steve Kerr say to warrant the first and then the second technical fouls that led to his ejection?

FORTE: For the first technical foul, Coach Kerr aggressively approached the official while shouting profanities. After the first technical was called, he continued shouting profanities while being held back by his assistant coach. And led to the second technical foul.

AZARLY: It appeared as though an uncalled goaltending is what led to Kerr’s frustrations. Was that correctly uncalled and could that play have been whistled in order to trigger a review?

FORTE: The shot by [Gary]Payton hit the backboard prior to being touched by Collins. It should have been ruled a goaltending violation. The only way it could have been reviewed was if it was called on the floor and the Clippers challenged the call, because it did not occur in the last two minutes of the game.

AZARLY: Only in the last two minutes is where you can trigger the automatic review?

FORTE: That is correct.

Forte also explained why Steph Curry not given continuation on his made floater a few plays before the goaltending in the fourth quarter.

“Curry was grabbed around the hip by [John] Collins prior to the gather,” Forte told Azarly. “And this was correctly ruled a non-shooting foul.”

The officiating proved consequential in a game that came down to the final seconds, with the Warriors losing by just one point.

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Terry Stotts comically saves Warriors coach Steve Kerr from fine after ejection

Terry Stotts comically saves Warriors coach Steve Kerr from fine after ejection originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Marshawn Lynch used to show up for press conferences so he wouldn’t get fined, and Warriors assistant Terry Stotts handled Monday’s postgame media availability to save coach Steve Kerr from a potential fine.

Stotts took the podium after a livid Kerr was ejected in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 103-102 loss to the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome.

“I’m up here because I’m saving Steve some money,” Stotts told reporters after the game. “So, that’s the only reason I’m here.”

Kerr was tossed from Monday’s game just over four minutes into the fourth quarter after arguing a missed goaltending call by the officiating crew.

Gary Payton II’s shot clearly hit the backboard before John Collins swatted it away, but the refs missed it, costing the Warriors two points, which proved to be pivotal in the outcome of the game.

But before the missed goaltending call, the Warriors were upset when a Steph Curry bucket was waved off because continuation wasn’t awarded following a Collins foul.

So, the blood was boiling for Kerr and the Warriors.

“What particularly?” Stotts said when asked what set Kerr off. “I think it’s that goaltending call that was missed. Well, there’s probably some other things, but that was the last straw, probably. I don’t want to speak for Steve.”

In real time, the Warriors were convinced the refs missed the call.

“I didn’t see a replay, but it sure seemed obvious at the time that it was a goaltend,” Stotts said.

Stotts said the Warriors didn’t receive an explanation from the officiating crew on what happened on the missed goaltending call.

But crew chief Brian Forte spoke to ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly for the Pool Report and explained why Kerr was ejected.

“For the first technical foul, Coach Kerr aggressively approached the official while shouting profanities,” Forte said. “After the first technical was called, he continued shouting profanities while being held back by his assistant coach. And led to the second technical foul.”

While teams usually have to wait until the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report is released the next day for the league to own up to missed calls, Forte admitted his crew got Monday’s call wrong.

“The shot by [Gary] Payton hit the backboard prior to being touched by Collins,” Forte said. “It should have been ruled a goaltending violation. The only way it could have been reviewed was if it was called on the floor and the Clippers challenged the call, because it did not occur in the last two minutes of the game.”

Despite the Warriors appearing to lose their cool in the fourth quarter, they made a late push and almost pulled out a remarkable win. Jimmy Butler’s fadeaway in the final seconds fell short, dropping Golden State to 19-18.

“There’s always going to be some frustration in a close game,” Stotts said. “The game, there’s going to be an ebb and flow of the game, but I thought for the most part, we kept our composure. You look at the stat sheet, we did a lot of good things. You look at how many turnovers we forced, we played our asses off. So I don’t know if frustration is the right word. When you’re not making some shots … I don’t think any frustration affected our game, let’s put it that way.”

Kerr, ejected for the first time this season, has earned four technical fouls in 37 games this year. It was the fifth disqualification of his coaching career.

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Justus Annunen signs 2-year extension with Nashville Predators

Big Juice is getting a big pay bump.

Monday, the Nashville Predators announced that goalie Justus Annunen has signed a 2-year, $2.5 million contract beginning in the 2026-27 season. 

The new extension will expire at the end of the 2027-28 season. 

Annunen was in the final year of his 2-year, $1.68 million contract, which he had signed with the Colorado Avalanche in March 2024.

He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche 64th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, spending three seasons in Finland before joining the Avalanche organization for the end of the 2020-21 season.

The Predators acquired Annunen in a 2024 trade that sent Scott Wedgewood and a 2025 sixth round draft pick to the Avalanche. 

Acting as backup to Juuse Saros, Annunen has struggled a bit this season, posting a 3-5-1 record with a 3.19 goals against average and .878 save percentage. His numbers have steadily improved throughout the season. 

Annunen's last outing was a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Dec. 31, making 29 saves on 31 shots. 

By signing Annunen to the extension, the Predators are cementing his role as Saros' backup, who is in the first year of an 8-year, $61.92 million contract. Saros has a 16-13-3 record with a 2.93 goals against average and a .896 save percentage. 

The Predators will face the Edmonton Oilers next on Tuesday at 8 p.m. PST at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. 

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What we learned as Warriors' late rally falls short in close loss to Clippers

What we learned as Warriors' late rally falls short in close loss to Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors spent most of Monday evening chasing the Los Angeles Clippers up and down the Intuit Dome floor, almost catching up despite coach Steve Kerr being ejected, Stephen Curry fouling out and a missed call by the officiating crew.

Golden State’s 38-percent shooting from the field, including a season-low 24.4 percent from beyond the arc, was the primary factor in a 103-102 loss to a Clippers squad playing without star guard James Harden.

The Warriors had 15 more field-goal attempts than LA, but only three players scored in double figures, led by 27 points from Stephen Curry. Jimmy Butler III finished with 24 and Gary Payton II delivered 14 off the bench.

The Warriors trailed by as much as 14 before pulling within one with 32.6 seconds remaining. Butler’s fadeaway over Nic Batum missed everything and the buzzer sounded.

This was Golden State’s eighth consecutive loss to the Clippers in LA, dating back to Nov. 28, 2021, when the game was at Crypto.com Arena.

Here are three observations from Golden State’s last road game until Jan. 22 at Dallas:

Stingy rims in Inglewood

When the Warriors boarded their flight Sunday afternoon, they evidently packed so lightly that upon arrival their baggage was devoid of their shooting touch.

The Warriors in the first quarter shot 28 percent from the field, including 16.7 percent from distance. It didn’t get much better over the next 36 minutes.

The starting lineup was 20 of 54 from the field, including 6 of 30 from deep. Curry was 9 of 23 from the field, including 4 of 15 from deep, before fouling out with 42.7 seconds left. Draymond Green was 1 of 7, 0 of 6. Moses Moody was 1 of 5, 0 of 3. Al Horford was 1 of 8, 1 of 5.

Golden State’s errant shooting bottomed out in the third quarter, with 13 points on 3-of-24 shooting, including 0 of 9 beyond the arc.

A Butler layup pulled the Warriors within four with 8:05 remaining in the third, but they failed the get a field goal for the rest of the quarter. That allowed LA to take a 12-point lead (76-64) into the fourth quarter.

Kerr ejected over missed call

One game after Green lost his temper after a missed call and was ejected, Kerr followed the same script. The coach was tossed with 7:57 remaining in the fourth quarter after officials missed an obvious goaltending call that went against the Warriors.

Payton drove in for a layup that was blocked byClippers forward John Collins after it caromed off the backboard. Any shot that’s tampered with after hitting the backboard is automatic goaltending.

Not a whistle was blown, so Kerr blew his top. He bounced off the bench yelling and gesturing at officials and was assessed with one technical foul and then another by crew chief Brian Forte. There was barely enough time to blink between the two calls. As Collins made two free throws, Curry and Payton made a futile appeal to Forte.
Though the team’s response to Green’s ejection was to rally to victory, there was no such comeback on this occasion.

The Warriors could do no more than lament the two points lost on the missed call.

The rare joy of turnovers

In most of Golden State’s games this season, the word “turnovers” has been printed across the foreheads of the entire roster. Giveaways have cost the Warriors several games and have become the most consistent bane of their collective existence.

In the first half against LA, the Warriors wiped off the ink and rubbed it onto the faces of the Clippers.

Outshot by an appreciable margin and outrebounded by a substantial margin, the Warriors went into intermission trailing by only four (55-51) because of their ability to force turnovers and LA’s inability to take care of the basketball.

More than one-third of the 51 points Golden State scored in the first 24 minutes came off turnovers, as the Clippers donated 18 points off 12 turnovers.

The final tally was Golden State committing only seven turnovers and posting a seldom seen decisive advantage (27-7) in points off the giveaways.

It was enough to keep the Warriors in position to win a game they otherwise they might have been blown out.

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Irate Steve Kerr ejected after refs miss goaltending call in Warriors-Clippers

Irate Steve Kerr ejected after refs miss goaltending call in Warriors-Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It takes a lot for Steve Kerr to lose his cool with an officiating crew, and on Monday night, the Warriors coach was set off by a missed goaltending call early in the fourth quarter.

Just over four minutes into the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ game against the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome, Gary Payton II’s layup attempt clearly hit the backboard before John Collins swatted it away.

The refs blew the call and a livid Kerr jumped up and down on the sideline as the Clippers moved the ball down the court. When a foul was called on the Warriors, Kerr went ballistic on the refs.

Kerr earned two quick technical fouls and was ejected with the Warriors trailing 81-74.

Assistant Terry Stotts took over as the Warriors’ coach with Kerr in the locker room.

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Mets sign infielder Christian Arroyo to minor league deal: report

The Mets are adding to their infield depth, signing Christian Arroyo to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to big league spring training, reports Mike Puma of The New York Post.

Arroyo, 30, last played in the majors in 2023.

During his seven-year MLB career, which has included stints with the Giants, Rays, Cleveland, and Red Sox, Arroyo has slashed .252/.299/.394 over 295 games.

He has experience playing all four infield positions and right field.

Arroyo spent the 2025 season playing in the Phillies' minor league system.

In 50 games over 207 plate appearances, Arroyo hit .301/.367/.457, mainly with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. 

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Tyler Mahle finalizes 1-year contract with Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — Free agent right-hander Tyler Mahle has finalized to a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants, who have been building their pitching staff this offseason.

The team announced the deal. San Francisco also added right-hander Adrian Houser on a two-year, $22 million contract that includes a 2028 club option. Reliever Jason Foley signed a one-year, $2 million contract.

The 31-year-old Mahle went 6-4 with several career-highs last season for Texas: a 2.18 ERA, opponents’ batting average against (.218), OPS against (.593), and home runs per nine innings (0.52) with a minimum of 10 starts.

He missed more than two months, from June 12 to Sept. 18, with fatigue in his pitching shoulder.

Mahle is coming home to California. He was selected by the Reds in the seventh round of the 2013 draft from Westminster High School and has pitched part of nine major league seasons for Cincinnati, Minnesota and the Rangers.

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Shooting slump drags defending national champion Florida out of college basketball poll

Defending national champion Florida shot its way out of the AP Top 25. It was Florida’s fifth loss — one more than it had last season — and was the team’s latest display of lackluster shooting and less-than-ideal playmaking. The Gators (9-5, 0-1 SEC) failed to hit double-digit 3-pointers for the 12th time in 14 games and shot a paltry 26% from behind the arc in a 76-74 loss to the Tigers.

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Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn gets stitches after hitting face on ice, likely out for next games

Jamie Benn

Jan 4, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) is helped to his feet after being injured during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Jerome Miron/Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn got stitches in his nose and isn’t expected to be with the team for its next couple of games after hitting his face on the ice in the last game.

Coach Glen Gulutzan said Benn was still being evaluated after he fell following contact with a Montreal player early in the third period of the Stars’ 4-3 overtime loss. Benn was bleeding while being helped off the ice and to the locker room, and he didn’t return to the game.

The Stars, who have a five-game losing streak, play their next six on the road.

Gulutzan said he didn’t expect Benn for the first part of that trip, at Carolina and the following night at Washington. But Gulutzan said the captain could join them for the West Coast portion of the stretch, which starts at San Jose.

Benn is one of only four NHL veteran players who don’t wear visors. They are grandfathered in from an NHL rule that went into place before the 2013-14 season requiring the facial protection.

The 36-year-old Benn, in his 17th NHL season and all with the Stars, has seven goals and seven assists in 23 games this season. He missed the first 19 games while recovering from a punctured lung he sustained in preseason.

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Phillies hire Don Mattingly as bench coach, reuniting him with GM son Preston

PHILADELPHIA — Don Mattingly made up his mind that 2025 would be his last season in baseball. The 1985 AL MVP and former manager would retire after one final season as a bench coach in Toronto, without or without the World Series ring he’s fruitlessly chased since his rookie season with the New York Yankees in 1983.

Mattingly reversed course during a year in which the Blue Jays won the AL pennant because of meaningful talks with his son.

No, not Preston Mattingly, the Phillies general manager who is now his dad’s boss after Donnie Baseball signed a multi-year deal to serve under Rob Thomson as bench coach. Well, at least not entirely — father and son had plenty of conversations about role and responsibilities for the reigning NL East champion Phillies.

Give 11-year-old son Louis Mattingly the bulk of the credit for flipping dad’s decision.

“(He) was kind of like, ‘Dad, you can’t stop. You’ve got to keep going,’” Mattingly said with a laugh. “I was like, oh, I don’t know about this. But that kind of helped change it a little bit, because I do worry about him missing school and all that stuff that he does.”

The 64-year-old Mattingly decided he had more to give the game after the Blue Jays lost the World Series in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mattingly gets to chase that ring working for his son, his friend from their old Yankees days in Thomson and maybe even help Bryce Harper — an MVP and a first baseman like Mattingly — regain his elite form.

Mattingly, who will be spending his 23rd straight season as a major league manager and coach, left his role as Toronto’s bench coach under manager John Schneider after the World Series.

“I felt like my mission going to Toronto was, in a sense, accomplished from the standpoint of just helping a young manager get started, who’s really talented, a really good manager,” Mattingly said. “I knew that part of my job was going to be finished.”

Mattingly replaced Mike Calitri, who became the Phillies’ major league field coordinator.

“I just think we’re adding a great voice, a guy that’s had a lot of experience doing this, great pedigree and we’re adding really solid, solid guy to a great coaching staff,” Thomson said.

Mattingly managed the Dodgers from 2011-15 and the Marlins from 2016-22. He was the 2020 NL Manager of the Year after he led the Marlins to their first playoff appearance since 2003.

He said he no longer had interest in managing again.

“I don’t think I have the energy for that anymore,” Mattingly said.

Mattingly played 14 seasons as a first baseman in the major leagues, all for the Yankees, from 1982-95. He was a six-time American League All-Star and the 1985 AL Most Valuable Player before retiring. Mattingly captained the Yankees in his final five seasons. He never reached the playoffs until 1995, when he hit .417 with a homer and six RBIs in the five-game Division Series loss to Seattle.

Mattingly’s production had been diminished by back injuries since at least 1990, and he finished with a .307 career average, 222 homers and 1,099 RBIs. He received only six votes from the contemporary era committee and fell short again in December of making the Hall of Fame.

“I try not to let myself get optimistic,” Mattingly said. “This year, I was a little optimistic. It seemed there was some sort of momentum. I told myself I won’t do that again.”

Philadelphia won the NL East for the second straight season and were eliminated by the Dodgers in the NL Division Series. They’ve reached the playoffs four straight seasons under Thomson — reaching the World Series in 2022 — but have yet to win the franchise’s first title since 2008.

The Mattinglys would like to end that streak together.

“To be able to do it with him,” Mattingly said, “would be incredible.”

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How to watch Golden State Warriors vs LA Clippers: TV/live stream info for tonight's game

Don't miss tonight's Peacock NBA Monday tripleheader. The action begins at 7:00 PM ET when the New York Knicks take on the Detroit Pistons. Then, at 8:30 PM, the Denver Nuggets go head-to-head with the Philadelphia 76ers. At 10:00 PM, the action heats up on the West Coast with a Golden State Warriors vs LA Clippers showdown.

RELATED:NBA power rankings: Pistons take over top spot

See below for additional information on how to watch each game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

Golden State Warriors:

The Warriors defeated the Utah Jazz 123-114 on Saturday. Stephen Curry scored 31 points, including six three-pointers. The two-time MVP is averaging 30.2 points per game over his last 10 games played.

Jimmy Butler and Quinten Post each finished with 15 points in Saturday's victory.

RELATED:Watch Warriors Draymond Green get ejected (again) for arguing call

LA Clippers:

The Clippers fell 146-115 to the Boston Celtics on Saturday, ending their six-game win streak. The loss marked the most points allowed by the Clippers (146) and the worst margin of defeat (31) this season.

Kawhi Leonard finished with 22 points. The two-time NBA Champion and Finals MVP is averaging 36.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.4 blocks over the last seven games.

RELATED:Clippers wing Derrick Jones Jr. suffers Grade 2 MCL sprain, to be re-evaluated in six weeks

How to watch Golden State Warriors vs LA Clippers:

  • When: Tonight, Monday, January 5
  • Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
  • Time: 10:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock
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What other NBA games are on tonight?

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With the holidays in the rearview mirror, the Week 12 NBA schedule is more evenly spread out.

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby Named NHL's Second Star Of The Week

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is less than 24 hours removed from giving the Penguins their fifth-straight win. 

He came off the bench in overtime to win the game on a breakaway, showcasing his vintage backhand. Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves had no chance on the shot. 

That goal capped off a brilliant week for Crosby, who recorded four goals and eight points in four games. His production earned him the NHL's Second Star of the Week. 

All four games resulted in wins, and the Penguins are on a five-game winning streak heading into Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils.

Crosby is also on a seven-game point streak, compiling five goals and 12 points during that time. He's also on pace for 48 goals and 94 points this season, which is simply outrageous for someone who is in his 21st season. He's simply on another level once again. 

The Penguins are 20-12-9 through 41 games, good for 49 points. They are currently in the first wild card spot. 

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!