The Milwaukee Bucks suffered a heartbreaking 115-114 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night, but the final score was far from the only talking point. With just 7.3 seconds left on the clock and the Bucks leading by one, a foul was called on Giannis Antetokounmpo against LaMelo Ball that had Bucks head coach Doc Rivers fuming.
Replays showed minimal contact, if any, as Ball drove to the basket and slipped. But the whistle blew, awarding the young Hornets star two free throws, which he calmly sank to give Charlotte the slimmest of leads. Antetokounmpo had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his jumper rimmed out, sealing an improbable upset.
Rivers: “The Ref Blew a Call”
In his post-game press conference, Rivers did not mince words about the pivotal foul call. “I thought the final play was the ref blowing a call,” Rivers said bluntly. “This is back-to-back games now where on the final play there has been an incorrect call made.”
Rivers was referring to a similar situation that occurred earlier in the week against the Detroit Pistons, where Antetokounmpo was again whistled for a foul with 1 second left and the score tied. In that instance, Pistons forward Ron Holland missed both free throws, allowing the game to go to overtime where the Bucks prevailed.
“LaMelo Ball fell. He just fell down. Nobody was near him. He slipped on his own. We come up with the ball and the game is over.”
– Doc Rivers
Controversial Calls Deciding Games
While the Bucks were able to overcome the questionable call against Detroit, they weren’t as fortunate versus Charlotte. The loss drops Milwaukee to 11-4 on the season, still an excellent record but one that could be even better if not for what Rivers clearly sees as officiating errors.
It’s rare for a coach to so blatantly criticize referees, but Rivers clearly felt the need to speak out given the magnitude of these calls. In a league where every win matters for playoff seeding, having multiple games impacted by controversial whistles is a tough pill to swallow.
Ball’s Clutch Gene Shines
Lost in the furor over the foul call is the fact that LaMelo Ball showed tremendous poise in knocking down the game-winning free throws. The 21-year-old point guard finished with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, continuing his ascent to stardom.
For a Hornets team that had struggled to close out games, beating a powerhouse like Milwaukee in such dramatic fashion could be a real turning point. If Ball continues to come up clutch and the young squad grows in confidence, Charlotte may be a team to watch in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Referees in the Spotlight
Regardless of which side you fall on, there’s no question that late-game officiating will be a major talking point around the NBA in the coming days. While referees have an immensely difficult job, calls like the ones that went against Antetokounmpo and the Bucks invite intense scrutiny.
The league office will almost certainly review the plays in question, but that’s little consolation for a Milwaukee team that feels it was wronged. It remains to be seen if the NBA will address the controversy publicly or if any disciplinary measures will be taken against the officials involved.
“I look forward to seeing more coaches willing to speak out against refs. There are too many times when we wonder how something was or wasn’t called…Coaches are in the heat of battle. They know the game. We should listen.”
– Respected NBA analyst
Moving Forward
For now, the Bucks will have to regroup quickly with another game on the horizon. Antetokounmpo, who had 26 points and 16 rebounds, must shake off any lingering frustration from the loss and continue his early MVP-level play. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday will need to step up as well to get Milwaukee back in the win column.
The Hornets, meanwhile, will look to build off this momentous victory. If they can bottle up the late-game execution and resilience they showed against the Bucks, it bodes well for their ability to compete with the East’s best as the season rolls on.
Ultimately, only time will tell the true impact of the call that left Rivers and the Bucks so incensed. Will it be a blip on the radar of a long season or a turning point in the East? With no shortage of opinions and hot takes to come, this much is certain: the debates around officiating and the “human element” of the game won’t be quieting down any time soon.
