Kings' Late Foul Was Tactical Error, Not Tanking, Sources Say

NBA investigating controversial play in Kings' loss to Warriors

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:21pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors that captures the intensity and competing perspectives of a close NBA game in its final minutes.A fractured, cubist depiction of a tense, late-game moment in an NBA contest, reflecting the strategic complexities and accusations that can arise when a team's playoff hopes have faded.Today in Sacramento

The NBA is looking into what Sacramento Kings sources say was a strategy mistake by coach Doug Christie, and not intentional tanking tactics, late in Tuesday's loss to the Golden State Warriors. With the Kings leading by one with 3:15 remaining, Christie called for forward Doug McDermott to foul Seth Curry, despite being in the penalty. Sources said 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 mistake was magnified after the buzzer when Warriors forward Draymond Green insinuated the Kings had done it for the purposes of losing the game. The Kings have been prioritizing their youth and understand a bottoming out in the final weeks could be beneficial, but team sources were adamant the late-game foul was strictly a tactical error.

The details

With the Kings leading by one with 3:15 remaining, Christie called for forward Doug McDermott to foul Seth Curry, despite being in the penalty. Sources said Christie miscalculated that the Warriors were in the bonus and it would send Curry, an 86.4% career free throw shooter, to the line. Curry made one of two free throws, tying it at 101. The Kings ultimately blew that lead in the final minutes as they dropped to 21-59, tied with the Utah Jazz for the league's fourth-worst mark.

  • With 3:15 remaining in the game, Christie called for the foul on Curry.
  • After the buzzer, Draymond Green insinuated the Kings had intentionally fouled to lose the game.

The players

Doug Christie

The head coach of the Sacramento Kings who made the controversial late-game foul call.

Doug McDermott

A forward for the Sacramento Kings who was instructed by Christie to foul Seth Curry late in the game.

Seth Curry

A guard for the Golden State Warriors who was fouled late in the game, despite being an 86.4% career free throw shooter.

Draymond Green

A forward for the Golden State Warriors who criticized the Kings' late-game foul as an intentional tanking tactic.

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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, Kings Head Coach

What’s next

The NBA is looking into the late-game foul call by the Kings to determine if it was an intentional tanking tactic or a tactical error.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing debate around tanking in the NBA, with teams prioritizing high draft picks over winning late in the season. While the Kings maintain the foul was a mistake, the league is investigating to ensure there was no intentional effort to lose the game.