In an interview with Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Crew Chief Bill Kennedy explained the reasoning behind a crucial call in last night’s game between Golden State and Houston. With only seconds remaining, a loose ball foul was called despite appearing to be uncontested.
According to Kennedy, the key factor was contact made by the defender on the opponent’s neck and shoulder area. This level of contact warranted the officials to call a personal foul, ensuring the player would not be allowed to continue driving towards the basket. The ruling was made in an attempt to maintain fairness and prevent potential harm to the opponent.
Source: https://official.nba.com/pool-report-on-the-final-seconds-in-tonights-golden-state-at-houston-game