The Milwaukee Bucks suffered a narrow loss to the Charlotte Hornets, ending an intense encounter with a 115-114 scoreline. However, the result was overshadowed by contentious officiating that left Bucks coach Doc Rivers expressing his frustration.
Officiating Controversy
The game concluded with a controversial foul call on Bucks' star Giannis Antetokounmpo during a crucial drive by LaMelo Ball. This decision allowed Ball to convert two game-winning free throws. According to Rivers, the foul call was incorrect. "I thought the final play was the ref blowing the call. This is back-to-back games now where on the final play there's been an incorrect call made. LaMelo Ball fell. He just fell down. Nobody was near him, slipped on his own, we come up with the ball and the game's over," he stated.
Adding to the Bucks' frustration, they were unable to challenge the call as they had already exhausted their available challenges during the game. Rivers further added, "Back-to-back games now, we've had a call made against us that was incorrect. We were lucky versus Detroit when the kid missed two free throws. Tonight, LaMelo Ball made the free throws. And there was clearly not a foul."
Disparity in Free Throws
Free throw attempts were notably skewed, with the Hornets making 21 attempts compared to the Bucks' 11. Antetokounmpo, a player known for his ability to draw fouls, was awarded only one attempt at the free-throw line. Rivers highlighted this imbalance by recalling a moment where he believed the whole team fouled Antetokounmpo during a dunk, yet no call was made. "The free throws tonight were 21 to 11 in their favor in a game that Giannis played. Giannis took one free throw. Go back three plays when Giannis dunked. The whole team fouled him," Rivers commented.
Admitted Error
The stakes were amplified when NBA official Curtis Blair conceded postgame that the foul call was erroneous. "During live play, we called illegal leg-to-leg contact. During postgame review, when we looked at the play, there was no illegal contact on the play," Blair admitted.
Main Players Missing
The Bucks faced additional challenges with key players Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton absent due to a concussion and ankle issues, respectively. Their absence placed more pressure on Antetokounmpo and the rest of the squad to step up. Despite their best efforts, Antetokounmpo’s last-second step-back jumper failed to find the net, sealing the Bucks’ fate in a closely contested match.
Current Standings and Future Outlook
After the loss, the Bucks find themselves with a 4-9 record, positioning them in 12th place within the Eastern Conference. This standing fuels the team’s resolve to overcome the officiating challenges and setbacks that have plagued their recent games and improve their performance.
For Rivers and his team, the focus remains not only on contesting calls but on securing victories and climbing back into a more favorable position within the league. They aim to channel their frustration into positive energy on the court, striving for a turnaround in their fortunes.