Bucks resume winning ways
The Milwaukee Bucks return from a pandemic layoff and hang on for a 119-112 win over the Celtics.
The whistle blew and the official's arm pumped out a charge call, stunning and angering Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had just blown by two Boston Celtics and been undercut by Celtics guard Marcus Smart.
At that point with 1 minute 28 seconds left, the game hung in the balance, tied at 107. As the referees went to the monitors, they were presiding over a huge momentum shift. If the call stood, it would be Antetokounmpo's sixth and final foul. If overturned, it would be an and-one for Antetokounmpo, giving them the chance to go up by three and more importantly allowing the reigning MVP to stay in the game.
The replay showed Smart was just a bit late and still in the restricted area when Antetokounmpo started is ascent. Call overturned.
When play resumed, Antetokounmpo made his free throw, Khris Middleton ended an 0-for-6 slump with a three pointer and the Bucks held on for a 119-112 victory as their season resumed Friday night inside the NBA's bubble at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Antetokounmpo put together an outstanding performance, racking up 36 points on 14 of 20 shooting, 15 rebounds and seven assists in just 32 minutes of action as he fought foul trouble all night. He scored 16 of Milwaukee's 32 points in the fourth quarter, including eight in the final three minutes.
Middleton started hot, cooled off big time and then saved his best for last, scoring 18 points and dishing out eight assists, including a sweet bounce pass to Antetokounmpo in the pick-and-roll for another and-one that helped seal the win with under 40 seconds to go.
Brook Lopez anchored Milwaukee's defense throughout the night, coming up huge with six blocks. He also chipped in 14 points in the victory.
Antetokounmpo almost didn't have a chance to play the hero at the end. With 3 minutes, 19 seconds left, George Hill missed a three-pointer and Boston's Daniel Theis corralled the rebound. Antetokounmpo lingered under the basket to defend Theis, picking up a cheap, silly foul – his fifth.
Less than a minute later, Antetokounmpo pushed Theis in the gut trying to fight around a screen, prompting a call from the officials. Instead of calling him for his sixth foul, though, they went to the monitors to review for a hostile act. They didn't find one – presumably looking for a low blow – and allowed the game to play on without issuing a foul.
The Bucks were fortunate with plenty of those officiating situations down the stretch, especially as they pertained to Antetokounmpo, but they also did enough to take advantage of those opportunities they were given. After building a 15-point first-half lead and watching it disappear, they were able to ride Antetokounmpo to victory.