NBA Clears Kings Coach for Foul Mistake vs Warriors

League says Christie made an honest error in late-game situation

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:25am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the team colors of the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.The NBA's review of a late-game coaching decision highlights the high-stakes pressure of in-the-moment strategy calls.Today in Sacramento

The NBA announced that Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie made an unintentional mistake when he instructed his team to foul Golden State Warriors guard Seth Curry in the final minutes of their recent matchup. The league's investigation found that Christie mistakenly believed the Warriors were not in the penalty, and he was not trying to intentionally give the Warriors free throws or cause his team to lose the game.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the high-pressure nature of NBA coaching decisions, especially in close, late-game situations. The league's transparency in reviewing the play and clearing Christie of any wrongdoing helps maintain trust in the integrity of the game.

The details

With the Kings leading by one point and 3:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, Christie told forward Doug McDermott to foul Curry, who then made one of two free throws to tie the game. The Kings went on to lose 110-105. The NBA's investigation determined that Christie simply made an honest mistake in his in-game strategy.

  • The incident occurred during the Kings' 110-105 loss to the Warriors on April 8, 2026.
  • The NBA announced its findings and cleared Christie on April 10, 2026.

The players

Doug Christie

Head coach of the Sacramento Kings.

Doug McDermott

Forward for the Sacramento Kings.

Seth Curry

Guard for the Golden State Warriors.

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What’s next

The Kings will look to bounce back from this close loss when they face the Los Angeles Clippers on April 12.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder that even experienced NBA coaches can make honest mistakes in the heat of the moment, and the league's transparency in reviewing and clearing Christie helps maintain trust in the game's integrity.