In a closely contested game that ended with a dramatic call, the Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Charlotte Hornets 115-114, further complicating what has been a challenging start to the season. With a 4-9 record, the Bucks now find themselves languishing in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings.
The final moments of the game were marked by controversy. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had carried much of the offensive load for the short-handed Bucks, was called for a crucial foul against LaMelo Ball as the latter drove to the basket. With the Bucks out of challenges, they were unable to contest the call. Ball capitalized on the opportunity, sinking both free throws to give the Hornets a slender lead. The Bucks had one last chance to regain the lead, but Antetokounmpo's jumper missed the mark, sealing their fate for the night.
Controversial Conclusion
The call against Antetokounmpo drew particular ire as replays and postgame analysis suggested there was no illegal contact. During the postgame review, it was confirmed by official Curtis Blair that "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." This admission added fuel to the frustrations of the Bucks, highlighting a recurring theme of controversial officiating decisions against them.
Bucks' coach, Doc Rivers, didn't mince words when critiquing 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," Rivers stated, pointing to a broader pattern within recent games. Indeed, the NBA's Last Two Minute Report had recently flagged an incorrect pivotal call in the Bucks’ overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons, adding to their growing list of grievances with officiating.
Free-Throw Discrepancy
Further scrutiny fell on the free-throw disparity, which favored the Hornets 21 to 11, with Antetokounmpo himself making just one trip to the line throughout the game. Rivers also expressed his exasperation with the missed calls elsewhere, pointing to a no-call on a crucial possession. "Go back three plays when Giannis dunked. The whole team fouled him, and it's a no-call," he emphasized, underscoring what he saw as a lack of consistency in officiating standards.
Playing Short-Handed
The Bucks were already at a disadvantage with key players Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton absent, meaning Antetokounmpo had to shoulder even greater responsibility. The absence of such vital cogs in their lineup has undoubtedly impacted their performance, as evidenced by their current standing in the conference.
The controversial loss to the Hornets has only intensified scrutiny on the Bucks' early-season struggles. Seemingly snakebitten by decisive calls going against them, Milwaukee must now navigate a challenging stretch, relying heavily on Antetokounmpo while hoping for the return of their injured stars.
Looking ahead, the Bucks will need to find ways to overcome these adversities, both on the court and with the officiating. Despite the current setbacks, they boast a cadre of experienced players and the leadership to potentially turn their season around. However, with an untenable record and growing frustration, the path forward will require resilience and perhaps a change in luck regarding close game officiating.