Bucks-Hornets blown call, explained: Why Doc Rivers blamed refs for Giannis Antetokounmpo foul in loss
runaway 2024/11/17 08:43
The Bucks are off to a difficult start this season, as Milwaukee sitting at 4-9 following a loss to the Hornets on Saturday afternoon. The team began the season 2-8, and after its first set of back-to-back wins this season, Milwaukee took a step back by being unable to close out the game in Charlotte.
Saturday's loss was especially difficult after it appeared the referees may have made an incorrect call in the final seconds, which was the second time this week that the Bucks got the wrong end of a bad call.
In both cases, Giannis Antetokounmpo was at the center of the controversy, and head coach Doc Rivers was visibly upset by the situation.
Bucks-Hornets blown call, explained
With the Bucks up a point with under 10 seconds left in the game, Antetokounmpo was called for a foul on LaMelo Ball, allowing Ball to go to the free throw line and sink the game-tying and game-winning free throws. A closer look at the play reveals that Ball may have tripped on his own feet, but since Milwaukee didn't have a challenge left, the call stood.
The Bucks did get the final possession of the game, but Antetokounmpo missed the shot to win, sealing the victory for Charlotte instead.
Doc Rivers postgame comments
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers didn't mince words after the game, fully blaming the refs for missing the call and giving the Hornets a free two points.
"I thought the final play was the ref blowing the call," Rivers said. "This is back-to-back games where on the final play, there's been an incorrect call made. LaMelo Ball fell, he just fell down."
Rivers is referring to Milwaukee's win over the Pistons on Wednesday, when the refs incorrectly called a foul on Antetokounmpo in a tie game with one second left. Luckily for the Bucks, Pistons forward Ronald Holland II missed both free throws, allowing Milwaukee to win the game in overtime.
At his press conference, Rivers spent most of the time criticizing the officials.
"When you watch the video, the ref that called the foul was blocked out by one of our players," Rivers said. "You can't guess at the end of a game, both teams have played too hard."
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