Controversial Finish as Bucks Fall to Hornets
In a game marked by controversial officiating and key absences, the Milwaukee Bucks narrowly fell to the Charlotte Hornets 115-114. The tight contest added another chapter to the Bucks' challenging start to the season, with the team now holding a 4-9 record and sliding into 12th place in the Eastern Conference. The explosive nature of the match was accentuated by the drama that surrounded the final moments, leaving players, coaches, and fans alike questioning the calls made on the court.
Contentious Calls Define the Night
The focal point of the game was a disputed foul involving LaMelo Ball and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the dying seconds. As Ball drove towards the basket, referees called a foul on Antetokounmpo. However, the validity of the call came into question, particularly as the Bucks had already exhausted their challenges and were unable to contest it further. Following this pivotal call, Ball successfully drained two free throws, sealing the victory for Charlotte.
The decision left Bucks' head coach, Doc Rivers, visibly frustrated. "I thought the final play was the ref blowing the call," Rivers commented post-game. "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."
Missed Opportunities for Milwaukee
Even before the decisive few seconds, the Bucks faced an uphill battle. Star guard Damian Lillard was sidelined due to a concussion, while Khris Middleton was absent because of persistent ankle issues. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who carried much of the weight for the Bucks, attempted a last-second step-back jumper that missed, adding to the team’s frustrations. Despite his usual dominance, Antetokounmpo took only one free throw throughout the game, a statistic that left coach Rivers incredulous given the physical nature of his play.
"The free throws tonight were 21 to 11 in their favor in a game that Giannis played. Giannis took one free throw," Rivers remarked with noticeable exasperation. "Go back three plays when Giannis dunked. The whole team fouled him. The whole team fouled him, and it's a no-call."
Officiating Under Scrutiny
Adding fuel to the fire, NBA official Curtis Blair later admitted that the game-winning call was erroneous. "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," Blair stated. This recognition, however, offered little solace to the Bucks, who were left to rue what might have been another victory snatched away by questionable officiating.
Rivers didn't hold back on criticizing the officiating's effectiveness late in games. "Back-to-back games now, we've had a call made against us that was incorrect," he reiterated. "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."
Moving Forward
The Bucks will need to regroup swiftly and assert their dominance on the court if they intend to climb up the rankings and overcome these controversial endings. The resilience of the players, their response to adversity, and a strategic approach to upcoming games will be critical as Milwaukee aims to steady the ship and regain their footing within the extremely competitive Eastern Conference.