With 9 losses in 13 games, the Bucks cannot afford crucial mistakes. Especially when they are not even the ones making them! Yes, they were left in shock during tonight’s Hornets game after Giannis Antetokounmpo was called for a foul in the final seconds while they led by a point. Sure enough, LaMelo Ball converted the resulting free throws, sealing the game. Well, the officials admitted later that it was a mistake. And Thanasis Antetokounmpo was not pleased with the Bucks suffering because of the refs’ error yet again.

Addressing the blown call, Thanasis tweeted postgame, “Everyone makes mistakes. Players, coaches, refs. We’re all human! But this needs to be explained, especially after two games in a row.” Although the elder Antetokounmpo is out for the season with a torn Achilles and is waiting for his next NBA contract, he did not hesitate from the risk of stepping into hot water, demanding answers for the officials’ error.

Well, official Curtis Blair admitted after the game, “During live play, we called illegal leg-to-leg contact. During postgame review when we looked at the play, there was no illegal contact on the play.”

Yes, although Giannis used his hands while defending Ball on that play, the Hornet fell on his own during the drive and there was no foul committed by the Greek Freak. But the call was not overturned because the Bucks did not have a challenge left to review the play.

Moreover, the officials’ admission is of no use to the Bucks, because it does not change the outcome of the game, and this sounds even worse when you look at the team’s record. And this is not the first time this season the Bucks have suffered because of a blown call.

Doc Rivers calls out NBA refs after controversial calls in back-to-back games

It was during the closing seconds of Wednesday’s Pistons game that Giannis was called for a foul on Ron Holland II while he was trying to catch a game-winning alley-oop on an inbound pass. Obviously, the Bucks camp was in shock when the referees did not overturn the call despite the replay clearly showing that The Greek Freak got the ball first and might not have committed a foul.

They awarded Holland with two free throws, a potential game-sealer. However, the Pistons star missed both shots under pressure and Giannis Antetokounmpo sealed the game in overtime with a 59-point performance. But that’s another game the Bucks could have lost because of controversial officiating. Thanasis also referred to the same thing in his tweet.

Doc Rivers shared the same sentiment after tonight’s loss.

Before revealing that the ref gave him “no explanation” initially for the alarming call, the HC said, “I thought the final play was the ref blowing a call. This is back-to-back games now where on the final play there has been an incorrect call made… If you’re not 100% sure, even if you saw contact but you’re not sure you can’t make it. But the one thing you can’t do is guess. And that was a complete guess, and we got hurt by it. And that’s just not fair.”

Obviously, these calls have played a part in the Milwaukee Bucks’ disappointing start to the season and they would hope that it does not happen again going forward.