Bucks coach Doc Rivers upset over late foul calls against Antetokounmpo in 115-114 loss to Hornets

CHARLOTTE, NC — Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers criticized officials for calling a foul on Giannis Antetokounmpo against LaMelo Ball with 7.3 seconds left in the game. Bucks’ loss of 115-114 to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.

With the Hornets trailing by one, Ball drove down the right side of the court and appeared to slip and fall. Replays did not appear to show any contact, but Antetokounmpo was whistled for a foul. Ball made both free throws to give Charlotte the lead.

Antetokounmpo’s jumper at the buzzer fell out and the Hornets escaped with the win.

“I thought the last play was the ref making the call,” Rivers said. “These are back-to-back games now where in the last game there was a wrong call.”

The Bucks didn’t have a challenge left.

A similar scenario occurred earlier this week against the Detroit Pistons when Antetokounmpo was whistled for a phantom call with 1 second left in regulation and the score tied at 111.

But in that game, Pistons forward Ron Holland II missed two free throws and the game went into overtime, and the Bucks prevailed 127-120 behind 59 points from Antetokounmpo.

“LaMelo Ball dropped,” Rivers said. “He just fell down. Nobody was near him. He slipped by himself. We come up with the ball and it’s game over. So back-to-back games now we’ve got a call against us that’s wrong. We got lucky in Detroit where the kid missed two free throws. Tonight, LaMelo Ball made the free throws.”

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