Warriors fans are heated—and for good reason. In a high-stakes showdown against the Clippers on April 13, 2025, a single whistle may have decided their postseason fate. The game went to overtime, and the Clippers came out on top 124–119. Curry and the Warriors now find themselves shoved into the Play-In, while Clippers fans are busy celebrating the fifth seed. However, this wasn’t just a typical nail-biter. Nope. A bizarre foul call on James Harden late in the fourth had Dub Nation screaming robbery.

Here’s what went down: With the game tied late in regulation, James Harden drove into the lane and threw up what looked exactly like a lob. You know, one of those soft, high, floaty passes that never even pretends to be a shot. But the refs saw something else entirely—apparently a “shooting motion”—and awarded him two free throws. Harden made both, flipped the momentum, and then went full vintage mode in OT with 12 extra points to seal the W.

For the Warriors, it wasn’t just one call—it was THE call. Steph Curry dropped 36 points, hit that clutch corner three to force overtime, and was doing Steph things all night. Jimmy added 30. But none of it mattered once that whistle blew. The loss officially booted Golden State out of the top six. Now, instead of cruising into the playoffs, they’re stuck battling for survival in the Play-In.

Poll of the day

Poll 1 of 5

Do you think the controversial foul call on James Harden was justified?

Yes, it was a clear shooting motion

No, it was definitely a lob

Refs are always inconsistent

I don't care, as long as my team wins

Do you think Damian Lillard's return will be the game-changer the Bucks need in the playoffs?

Absolutely, he's the missing piece

Maybe, but the team needs more than just him

No, the issues run deeper than one player

I'm skeptical until I see him play

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How should the Bucks address Kyle Kuzma's shocking performance in Game 1?

Give him another chance to prove himself

Bench him until he shows improvement

Focus on team strategy rather than individual performance

Trade him if he doesn't step up soon

Do you think the Golden State Warriors should trade Jonathan Kuminga despite the financial complications?

Yes, it's time to move on

No, he deserves more playing time

Only if they get a better player in return

It's too risky financially

Should the Brooklyn Nets pursue Jonathan Kuminga as a key part of their future roster?

Absolutely, he has great potential

No, they should focus on other players

Only if the price is right

It's a gamble not worth taking

Want to dive deeper?

Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.

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The Clippers? They’re smiling all the way to a best-of-seven, thanks largely to Harden’s heroics and… well, a little bit of zebra luck.

“Definitely a Lob” – Stephen Curry Fans Call Out the Obvious

Let’s start with the most common fan take: “That wasn’t a shot!” A ton of people watching live—and later on replay—agreed that Harden’s motion looked like a textbook alley-oop attempt, not a jumper. One fan put it plainly: “Definitely a lob.” Harden even appeared to be looking toward his rolling big when he released it. This is exactly why the NBA has its “Last Two Minute Report” system, where they review calls like this. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help much after your team gets booted down the standings. Warriors fans weren’t just annoyed—they were stunned at how such a pivotal moment was decided by a call that looked so… wrong.

Oh, it didn’t stop there. Another fan went off: “This is classic, disgusting, criminal @NBAOfficial at work!” Dramatic? Maybe. Justified? Depends on who you ask. But when you zoom out, the frustration isn’t just about Harden. It’s about a season full of inconsistent officiating: Luka Doncic got ejected vs. the Thunder for yelling at a fan (yes, a fan), and the NBA later admitted the second tech was a mistake. In the playoffs last year, Aaron Nesmith was hit with a phantom kickball violation that swung the game. Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic lost his mind over a 21 free throw difference against the Lakers, got fined $25K for speaking the truth, and basically said the refs were garbage.

Put all that together, and yeah—Warriors fans are kinda over it.

The memes flew fast. “The worst officials in all of professional sports doing what they do,” read one post. And let’s be honest—they’re not the only league with ref issues. In soccer, VAR has fans breaking TVs weekly. The NFL has people guessing what a catch is since 2009. MLB? Don’t even get started on strike zones. But NBA refs have this particular reputation, especially in tight games. And with a guy like Harden—who’s been labeled the king of foul-baiting—it just adds fuel to the fire. It’s not just one call. It’s a pattern.

Now, this one hit home for Warriors fans. One fan nailed it: “He was passing. But if that’s a foul, Curry is fouled just about every second he is on the court.” And that’s facts. Stephen Curry is constantly bodied, grabbed, bumped, and sometimes full-on tackled off the ball—but half the time, he doesn’t get the whistle. Meanwhile, Harden gets two freebies for something that looked like a casual dish. It’s this inconsistency that drives fans nuts. If you’re gonna call that for Harden, where’s the love for Curry?

Well, now the Warriors are in Play-In purgatory, forced to fight their way out just to get into the real dance. It’s a brutal spot for a team that looked like it might finally be clicking, especially with Draymond Green back in the mix and the offense starting to look like… well, the OG Stephen Curry Warriors.

And all it took was one suspect call to flip the script.

Refs, man.