Giannis Antetokounmpo shouldn’t have been called for a foul against LaMelo Ball on Saturday, referees determined, agreeing with Bucks coach Doc Rivers’ criticism of the play that gave the Charlotte Hornets the eventual winning points in a 115-114 victory over Milwaukee.
With the host Hornets trailing by one, Ball drove the right side of the lane and appeared to slip and fall. Replays didn’t appear to show any contact, but Antetokounmpo was whistled for the foul with 7.3 seconds left. Ball made both free throws to give Charlotte the lead.
“I thought the final play was the ref blowing a call,” Rivers said. “This is back-to-back games now where on the final play there has been an incorrect call made.”
The Bucks did not have a challenge left. If they had, the call would have been overturned on replay, crew chief Curtis Blair said.
CELTICS 126, RAPTORS 123: Jayson Tatum hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime and Boston rallied at home to beat Toronto. Tatum finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Jaylen Brown added 27 points.
Toronto has lost seven straight and failed to register its first road win of the season despite getting a career-high 35 points from Jakob Poeltl.
FOUL BY WARRIORS’ GREEN UPGRADED TO FLAGRANT: Golden State forward Draymond Green’s foul against Memphis’ Zach Edey in the third quarter of the Warriors’ victory over the Grizzlies has been upgraded to a category-one flagrant, the NBA said Saturday after reviewing the play.
The foul — for which Green initially was charged with only a personal — came with 7:06 left in the third quarter of Friday’s game, which Golden State won 123-118. Green lost his balance on a drive and fell near Edey’s feet.
Green appeared to both swing his left leg outward as he was on the ground and restricted Edey’s ability to move his right ankle by clamping it between his elbow and his side. Edey wound up tripping over Green’s outstretched leg and the personal foul was called.
Green went on to pick up two technical fouls in a 33-second span of the fourth quarter and was ejected with 1:14 remaining. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he didn’t get a clear reason for Green’s second technical.
“I don’t need an explanation,” Green said after finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. “I did my job. My job was done for the night. Moving on.”