Kings' Late Foul in Loss to Warriors Deemed Tactical Error, Not Tanking

NBA investigating the incident, but sources say it was a miscalculation by coach Doug Christie, not an intentional effort to lose.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:36pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball game in motion, with players and the court broken down into abstract shapes and planes of color, conveying a sense of strategic tension and energy.A cubist interpretation of the controversial late-game foul that sparked accusations of tanking in the Kings-Warriors matchup.Today in Sacramento

The NBA is looking into a late-game foul by the Sacramento Kings in their loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, but team sources say it was a tactical error by coach Doug Christie, not an intentional effort to tank. With the Kings leading by one in the final minutes, Christie called for forward Doug McDermott to foul Seth Curry, despite the Kings being in the penalty. Sources say Christie miscalculated that the Warriors were in the bonus and it would send Curry, an 86.4% career free throw shooter, to the line.

Why it matters

The incident has sparked accusations of tanking from Warriors forward Draymond Green, who believes the NBA needs to crack down on such blatant attempts to lose games. However, the Kings have been adamant that they are not tanking and are simply trying to develop their young players, despite being without several key veterans due to injuries.

The details

With 3:15 remaining and the Kings leading by one, Christie called for McDermott to foul Curry, despite the Kings being in the penalty. Sources say Christie made a mistake, thinking the Warriors were not in the bonus, when in fact they were, sending Curry to the line as an 86.4% career free throw shooter. The Kings ultimately lost 110-105, but team sources insist it was a tactical error, not an intentional effort to lose.

  • The incident occurred with 3:15 remaining in the Kings' 110-105 loss to the Warriors on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Doug Christie

The head coach of the Sacramento Kings.

Doug McDermott

A forward for the Sacramento Kings.

Seth Curry

A guard for the Golden State Warriors who is an 86.4% career free throw shooter.

Draymond Green

A forward for the Golden State Warriors who accused the Kings of tanking after the game.

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What they’re saying

“I saw a team tonight foul Seth Curry with three minutes to go for no reason. I get fined when I do wrong. Fine the hell outta people.”

— Draymond Green

“Tanking is the last thing [ I'd do ] . I respect the game too much. These young men, in my opinion, when you do things like that, it hurts them.”

— Doug Christie, Head Coach, Sacramento Kings

What’s next

The NBA is investigating the incident to determine if any disciplinary action is warranted.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing debate around tanking in the NBA, with teams accused of intentionally losing games to improve their draft position. While the Kings maintain it was a tactical error, the league is looking into the matter to ensure teams are not engaging in blatant tanking practices.