Wednesday’s 120-118 victory over the Detroit Pistons did not come without controversy for the Milwaukee Bucks. The most contentious moment of the hard-fought battle came in the third period when Giannis Antetokounmpo got ejected after being whistled for his second technical foul.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Ejected Vs. Pistons
Giannis got kicked out of the game early in the third quarter. The seven-time All-Star got a little bit too excited after throwing one down over a Pistons defender. Antetokounmpo was already riding a technical foul, and the fact that the referee deemed his celebration excessive meant that it was an early shower for the Bucks talisman.
Giannis has been ejected after receiving his second technical foul. 🤔#FearTheDeer | #NBA pic.twitter.com/UKuAIJJrU7
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) November 9, 2023
Adrian Griffin Takes Responsibility for Giannis’ Ejection
Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin spoke to reporters after the game and naturally, the media wanted to hear what the first-year shot-caller had to say about Giannis’ ejection. Griffin was quick to take the blame for the stunning turn of events:
“I wasn’t told anything,” Griffin said, via Gabe Stoltz of Brew Hoop. “I think I just have to do a better job. Giannis doesn’t complain to the refs. He’s really respectful to the refs. I think I’m letting him down in that sense because I think I need to be a little more vocal during the games when he’s getting hit and kind of stick up for him a little better. I’ve been dropping the ball on that.
“It’s an emotional game. He made a phenomenal play. It’s exciting, emotional. I thought he moved on fairly quickly so I was surprised with the second technical, but that’s up to the league to decide. I thought he made a tremendous play and like I said, he’s extremely respectful to the game and to the fans and to the refs, and I think I just gotta do a better job of protecting him.”
It’s great to hear Griffin standing up for his superstar here. There are going to be a lot more high-intensity games for the Bucks moving forward, and it sounds like this is another key learning for Coach Griff.
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