Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr cited first-half turnovers and a critical defensive breakdown as decisive factors in the team’s 115-107 Game 6 loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
Speaking to reporters postgame, Kerr pointed to the team’s ball control as the central issue: “I didn’t like our first half with the turnovers. I think we had 10, and that’s the key to the whole series — our ball security.”
The Warriors turned the ball over 10 times in the first half alone and finished with 14 giveaways overall.
Kerr emphasized how one sequence in the fourth quarter shifted the game’s momentum decisively in Houston’s favor.
“I thought the key play was the four-point play to start the quarter,” Kerr said. “They just threw it — we didn’t guard VanVleet — they threw it up the floor, and he knocks it down and gets the free throw. That felt like a game-changing play.”
Fred VanVleet led Houston with 29 points, including a 6-for-9 shooting night from beyond the arc, while Alperen Sengun added 21 points and 14 rebounds.
Stephen Curry had 29 points for Golden State but went cold late as the Warriors missed 13 straight shots in the fourth quarter.
Kerr said the Rockets’ defensive scheme played a big role during that stretch.
“They were in a zone,” he explained. “They played Adams quite a bit, and he’s at the center of that zone — kind of a 2-1-2. I thought we got some good looks against the zone, but once they pulled away by 10 or 12, it was easier for them to run us off the line.”
Golden State shot just 15-for-49 from deep and 37-for-90 from the field overall.
Despite the offensive drought, Kerr doesn’t believe fatigue was a factor. “No, I don’t think fatigue was a factor. Obviously, Game 7 — everything’s on the table.”
Kerr hinted at possible rotation adjustments in the series finale, including giving forward Jonathan Kuminga minutes.
“100%. He’s on the table,” Kerr said. “We stayed with that formula to start the series. Up 3-1, things were going well, and then obviously the last two games have gone very poorly. We have to assess everything.”
The Warriors coach also addressed rising frustration within the team, particularly visible in players like Draymond Green and Brandin Podziemski late in Game 6.
“There’s no question the frustration tonight set in — I could see it in the body language,” Kerr admitted. “We can’t have that. We can’t afford that in Game 7.”
Golden State will travel to Houston for Game 7 on Sunday, with the winner advancing to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals.
Kerr expressed full confidence in his team’s ability to regroup.
“I’ve seen what this group can do over the years,” he said. “We’ve been in a lot of Game 7s, I believe, and had a lot of success.”
He added that the experience of players like Curry, Green, and Jimmy Butler in high-pressure playoff games will be key: “Just confidence. Belief. I know our guys believe, and they’ll be ready to go.”
The Warriors held a 3-1 lead earlier in the series before dropping back-to-back games by a combined 23 points.
Kerr acknowledged the challenge of adjusting in less than 48 hours but remained upbeat: “That’s the key, right? Starts right now — players getting hydrated and getting their rest tonight. Coaches figuring out what our adjustments will be.”
