Bucks Edged Out by Hornets Amid Controversial Officiating
In a closely-fought contest that left the Milwaukee Bucks feeling aggrieved, the Charlotte Hornets secured a narrow 115-114 victory. The tension-laden match was marked by contentious officiating, as well as absences due to key injuries.
The Bucks, competing without star guard Damian Lillard, who was sidelined with a concussion, and Khris Middleton, who was nursing ankle issues, struggled to gain the upper hand. Despite the absence of their stars, Milwaukee showed resilience and heart, led by the ever-dominant Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the night would end in frustration for both Antetokounmpo and his team.
As the game clock wound down, the Hornets' LaMelo Ball set up a critical sequence that would define the outcome. Driving against Antetokounmpo, Ball drew a foul in the closing moments, a call that many, including NBA official Curtis Blair, later admitted was erroneous. During postgame review, Blair clarified, "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."
Compounding the Bucks’ frustrations, they were unable to challenge the controversial call as they had exhausted their allotment of challenges earlier in the game. LaMelo Ball, seizing the opportunity, coolly sank both free throws to put Charlotte ahead.
With seconds remaining, Antetokounmpo had a chance to tip the balance back in Milwaukee's favor. Unfortunately for the Bucks, his last-second step-back jumper did not find the basket, sealing their fate. The Hornets' win, facilitated by a stark free-throw disparity—with 21 attempts to Milwaukee's 11—highlighted growing frustrations among the Bucks' ranks.
Head coach Doc Rivers did not hold back postgame, expressing his discontent with the officiating. "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," Rivers said, delineating the perceived injustices.
Rivers did not hesitate to point out the broader implications of officiating judgments. "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. When you watch the video, the ref that called the foul was blocked out by one of our players. You can't guess at the end of a game. Both teams have played too hard. You can’t guess," Rivers elaborated.
The free-throw imbalance particularly irked Rivers, especially in a game where Giannis Antetokounmpo, known for his physical presence and frequent trips to the line, attempted just one free throw. Highlighting a crucial moment, Rivers stated, "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. The whole team fouled him, and it's a no-call."
Following the loss, Milwaukee found themselves with a 4-9 record, languishing in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. While the officiating played a notable role in their latest defeat, the Bucks know they must focus on overcoming these setbacks and seek to improve their performance on the court.
It remains to be seen how Milwaukee will navigate the choppy waters of controversy and inconsistency. What is certain, however, is that the Bucks, with their skill and determination, will not easily bow to such challenges. As the season progresses, this game might merely serve as a backdrop to a narrative of resilience and growth.