In a closely contested matchup on Saturday, officials admitted to a significant error involving a foul call against Giannis Antetokounmpo, which ultimately allowed LaMelo Ball to secure game-winning free throws for the Charlotte Hornets in their 115-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Following the game, a pool report by Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer revealed that referee Curtis Blair acknowledged the call was incorrect, stating, 'During live play we called illegal leg to leg contact. During postgame review, we looked at the play, and there was no illegal contact on the play.'
The pivotal moment occurred with just seven seconds remaining, as the Bucks held a one-point lead when Antetokounmpo was charged with a foul on Ball. This mistake resulted in a pair of free throws, which proved decisive as Milwaukee had exhausted their challenges at that point. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers expressed his discontent with the officiating, noting, '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.' Rivers lamented consecutive games where incorrect calls impacted the outcome, referencing the prior contest against the Detroit Pistons.
In that game, a foul was called on Antetokounmpo during a late lob attempt, leading to two free throws for Pistons rookie Ron Holland, who ultimately missed both attempts. The latest defeat marked a challenging start to the 2024-25 season for the Bucks, dropping their record to 4-9, while the Hornets improved to 5-7. Antetokounmpo nearly led Milwaukee to victory by recording his first triple-double of the season with 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, shooting 11-for-22 from the field. Meanwhile, LaMelo Ball managed to overcome a rough shooting night to score 26 points and add six assists, successfully converting all 11 of his free throw attempts despite making only seven of his 20 shots from the floor.
