The Milwaukee Bucks lost a heartbreaker to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday afternoon by the score of 115-114. Playing another game without All-Star point guard Damian Lillard, Milwaukee was led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who notched his first triple-double of the season. He had 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists to go with two blocks. Unfortunately, it was not enough.
Lillard, of course, has missed the last few games after a referee inadvertently hit him in the head during the Bucks’ game against the Boston Celtics, causing him to sustain a concussion.
As well as the Greek Freak played, though, this loss will not be remembered for his extraordinary efficiency. It will be remembered by a terrible foul call that handed the Hornets the game.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Was Called for a Foul that Cost Them the Game
With mere seconds remaining in the game, the Bucks held a 114-113 advantage. Charlotte had the ball, and they gave it their best playmaker, Lamelo Ball. Fortunately, Milwaukee was able to work a defensive switch, which saw Giannis guarding the Hornets’ All-Star.
As Ball drove to the basket, he lost his footing and fell to the ground. The whistle blew and the Bucks’ two-time MVP was called for a foul.
The only problem was that he didn’t do anything wrong.
This is a foul in 2024 and the NBA wonders why ratings are at an all time low
— GiannisMuse 💫🦌 (@GiannisMuse) November 16, 2024
After the game, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers went off on the officials for the call:
“I thought the final play was the ref blowing a call,” Rivers said. “This is back-to-back games now where on the final play there has been an incorrect call made.
“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. So back-to-back games now we have had a call made against us that is incorrect. We were lucky in Detroit the kid missed two free throws. Tonight, LaMelo Ball made the free throws.”
As Milwaukee’s fans may recall, a similar situation occurred in the closing seconds of their win over Detroit. Giannis was called for a foul, when in reality he had made a clean block. Fortunately, the Pistons missed the two free throws and Milwaukee went on to win in overtime.
Milwaukee Bucks Fans Go Off on the NBA After Officials Admit They Made a Mistake
After the game, crew chief Chris Blair said, “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.”
He also admitted that had the Bucks challenged the call (they did not have a challenge at the time), the foul would have been overturned.
Milwaukee would have won the game.
Needless to say, Bucks fans were incredulous on social media:
Hilarious that people on here were trying to say it was an illegal hand check. Just a straight up theft of a game by the NBA. Two games in a row. https://t.co/32RGKJyRWO
— NoTechBen (@NoTechBen) November 17, 2024
They tried rigging the last game also but failed. It’s obvious what the league’s agendas are https://t.co/CFfzEINZLM
— tooforwon (@tooforwon241) November 17, 2024
They should make an NFL type rule that anything under 2 min can be reviewed. Obviously not EVERYTHING under 2 min, but something this obvious that takes one look to see it was a blatant missed call should be quickly changed.
— Dame n Giannis (@DameandGiannis) November 17, 2024
This is a call that decided an NBA game
Never beating the rigged allegations#Bucks #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/JysyZcN8ap
— Tony Clements (@TonyCMKE) November 16, 2024
2 games in a row the refs played the Bucks. Again. Yall can’t tell me the @NBA ain’t got some agenda against the Bucks https://t.co/ZXFs4ZTCDw
— Nathan (@Mke_Prince) November 16, 2024
Regardless, Milwaukee is now 4-9 on the season. There is still time for them to salvage the year, of course; but they are going to have a hard time doing so if they keep losing games like this and in this manner.
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