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With just seconds remaining in Game 3 and the Boston Celtics down three points to the Milwaukee Bucks, Marcus Smart had a tremendous opportunity to tie the game on a 3-point attempt. The only problem is that he was never able to put his shot up.
Smart got fouled by Jrue Holiday as he was going up to attempt his trey. The referees did not see it that way, though, and the Celtics star ended up being given just two free throws for a non-shooting foul. After the game, Smart expressed how adamant he is about how he should have shot three free throws:
“It’s not like he got me down low,” Smart said. “I was in my shooting motion, I thought it was three (shots).”
Marcus Smart on the final for: "It’s not like he got me down low. I was in my shooting motion, I thought it was three (shots)."
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) May 7, 2022
Smart then went on to reveal some suspicious behavior from the game officials as he tried to contest their call. According to the Celtics guard, he never even got an explanation:
“It wouldn’t make sense to do a rip-through move on the three-point line when you got a clear shot for three down three,” Smart said. “They didn’t give me an explanation. When I went to ask, they looked at me funny, said to go to the free throw line.”
Smart: "It wouldn’t make sense to do a rip-through move on the three-point line when you got a clear shot for three down three. They didn’t give me an explanation. When I went to ask, they looked at me funny, said to go to the free throw line." https://t.co/hXpHgjHrVz
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) May 7, 2022
Smart did well to intentionally miss his second free throw to secure one final possession for the Celtics. Boston missed three attempts before Al Horford successfully tipped in the shot from point-blank. Unfortunately for the Celtics, time had expired at that point and the basket didn't count.
This game could have had a different outcome if that controversial call went in the favor of Smart and the Celtics.
