Controversial Call in Warriors vs. Rockets Game Leaves Fans and Players Fuming

Content for everyone

Fans watching the Golden State Warriors’ NBA playoffs opener against the Houston Rockets couldn’t help but be frustrated with the officiating.

One particular moment that stood out came late in the first quarter when Alperen Sengun was guarding Jimmy Butler. The Rockets big man was whistled for a foul after softly touching the Warriors forward, who lost his balance and stepped out of bounds.

While Sengun did touch Butler, it was minimal and appeared to be standard defensive play. However, it seems the referee thought that it caused the six-time All-Star to lose his footing, hence the foul call.

The decision didn’t sit well with many fans, who complained that it was a weak call. It also fueled speculation that the referees are favoring the Warriors.

“That’s soft [expletive] for a playoff game,” a commenter wrote on Reddit. Another one said, “Butler gets one of the most [expletive] whistles I’ve ever seen. Dude is such a flopper.”

An angry viewer added, “That referee doesnt deserve to be an NBA referee what a [expletive] moron.”

“Always gotta face both the Refs and the warriors,” a poster added, implying that NBA officials are giving the Dubs an unfair advantage.

“Refs gotta pay more attention. No way he felled for that,” a social media user stated.

A sixth follower remarked, “Unwatchable.”

The Rockets are the higher-seeded team in their showdown with the Warriors, having finished the regular season with a 52-30 record—second-best in the Western Conference. The Dubs, for their part, finished seventh with a 48-34 record and needed the play-in tournament to qualify for the postseason.

Despite that, many favor the Warriors over the Rockets because of the star power they have and their championship experience.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise why fans cannot help but get frustrated over the favorable calls Golden State still gets.

It remains to be seen if the trend will continue throughout the series, but sure enough, fans will be closely watching how their matchups are officiated.