The Milwaukee Bucks (4-9) succumbed to the Charlotte Hornets (5-7) following a controversial 115-114 finish on November 17.
The Bucks were up by 1 (114-113) with 7.1 seconds remaining when Antetokounmpo was whistled for a foul against the driving Ball. Replays showed that Ball tripped on his own, but Milwaukee had no challenge left to contest the decision. Later on, the officials admitted that the call was indeed a blunder. The Hornets’ guard then sank both free throws to steal the win.
LaMelo Ball sustained his stellar season, leading the Hornets with 26 points, including 15 in the fourth, along with 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Miles Bridges returned from a three-game absence and chipped in 19 points and 7 rebounds. The Hornets dominated the boards, outrebounding the Bucks 53-40 and outscoring them in second-chance points 21-8. Moussa Diabaté was a game-changer, grabbing 10 offensive rebounds.
Taurean Prince top-scored for the Bucks with 23 points and 5 assists, while Bobby Portis added 22 points and 7 rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a solid triple-double, putting up 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists but missed a crucial jumper with 2.0 seconds left.
Bucks’ Strong Finish Erased by Late Call
Both teams started strong, but the Bucks took the upper hand with Prince and Antetokounmpo leading the charge. However, the Hornets stayed on their necks with Diabaté putting in the work. The Hornets went on a hot streak from beyond the arc in the third, grabbing the lead on a three-pointer from Green. But the Bucks responded with a stronger finish, with Portis scoring 6 straight points to reclaim control.
The fourth quarter went down to the wire. Jackson Jr. hit two three-pointers, giving the Bucks a (105-101) edge, but Ball came back with a 7-point outburst, reclaiming the advantage (113-109). Then Connaughton came up big, hitting clutch baskets, putting the Bucks back up by 1, but that’s when the crucial call was made, giving the Hornets the advantage they needed to escape with the win.
Up Next
The Bucks host the Rockets on Tuesday while the Hornets take on the sizzling Cavs tomorrow.
