Following the Milwaukee Bucks' narrow 115-114 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, Bucks coach Doc Rivers found himself in hot water with the NBA after publicly criticizing the officiating that determined the outcome of the game. Rivers was fined $25,000 by the league for his remarks.
The contentious moment in question occurred with just 7.3 seconds remaining in the game when Rivers disputed a foul call against Giannis Antetokounmpo, claiming that Charlotte's LaMelo Ball had simply slipped and fallen. Despite Rivers' objections, Ball went on to sink two crucial free throws, securing the victory for the Hornets.
Although the referees initially called a foul on Antetokounmpo for illegal leg-to-leg contact, a postgame review revealed that there was no such infraction on the play. This revelation, however, did not spare Rivers from the hefty fine imposed by the NBA.
Notably, this was not the first time the Bucks had found themselves embroiled in controversy over late-game officiating. Just days prior, Antetokounmpo had been on the receiving end of a questionable call in a game against the Detroit Pistons. Despite a contentious foul call against Antetokounmpo in the dying seconds of regulation, the Pistons failed to capitalize as Ron Holland II missed two crucial free throws, ultimately leading to an overtime victory for the Bucks.
Rivers expressed his frustration with the officiating, acknowledging the element of luck that had favored the Bucks in their previous game against the Pistons. However, the outcome was different against the Hornets, with Ball's successful free throws sealing the win for Charlotte.
As the NBA continues to uphold standards of sportsmanship and professionalism, fines were also levied against players for inappropriate conduct. Ball was fined $100,000 for using an anti-gay slur in his postgame comments when describing Charlotte's defensive strategy against Antetokounmpo.
Despite the controversies surrounding officiating and player conduct, the Bucks and the Hornets remain focused on their respective campaigns as they navigate the challenges of the NBA season.
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