The Golden State Warriors were eliminated from the NBACup after a close one-point loss to the Houston Rockets, but the game left a totally unexpected moment. In the midst of the intensity of the game, Stephen Curry was the subject of a controversial play that did not go unnoticed.

It all happened after a three-point basket by Curry, when the referee made a decision that left everyone, including Steph, in disbelief. His reaction spoke for itself, but the most surprising thing came later: the referee, in a rare gesture, seemed to acknowledge his mistake with an apologetic gesture towards Curry. This unexpected moment in the middle of the game caused a stir among fans, something that is not very common to see from referees.

Despite Curry’s magic and this unexpected exchange with the referee, the Warriors failed to advance to the semifinals. Their performance, which at the beginning of the season placed them as leaders of the Western Conference after key victories against teams like the Boston Celtics, began to decline due to problems such as turnovers.

On the other hand, the Rockets took advantage of their offensive and defensive rebounding advantage to slow Golden State down, limiting them to less than 100 points. Even Curry, known for being unstoppable, was contained and finished the game with only 19 points.

This win assured the Rockets their place in the semifinals of the NBA Cup, a tournament that is becoming more and more relevant in the regular season.

With three young teams competing and only the Bucks of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard as experienced favorites, the NBA Cup promises exciting moments.

The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, and next Tuesday will define who will take the place of the Los Angeles Lakers, champions of the first edition in 2023.

For the Warriors, this stumble marks a point of reflection, while the Rockets advance with hunger and determination, ready to spring a surprise.