Game 2 between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat had a crazy, controversial finish. Back-to-back shooting foul calls saw the NBA-best Milwaukee tie the game before Miami take it away again from them.
In the end, the Heat bagged the 116-114 win to go up 2-0 in their second-round series.
The officials seemed to grab the spotlight in Wednesday's game after questionable calls had everyone going crazy online, including some of the top NBA players.
No they didn’t!
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) September 3, 2020
Touuuugh way for a great game to end.
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) September 3, 2020
Well…that’s game — 2-0
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) September 3, 2020
The Bucks had the ball with just seven seconds left after successfully inching their way to a single-possession deficit. They struggled for a key stretch in the fourth, but with key buckets from Giannis Antetokounmpo and major errors from the Heat, Milwaukee saw themselves within striking distance.
Mike Budenholzer drew a play to open up Khris Middleton, and when the Bucks guard pulled up for a three, he was challenged Goran Dragic. The Heat playmaker was called for a shooting foul even if he had his hands straight up.
was this a foul? pic.twitter.com/OMcN8j7PrH
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 3, 2020
Unfortunately, the Heat didn't have a challenge left and Middleton converted all three charity shots to tie the game at 114 with just four seconds to go. This had NBA players going wild on Twitter.
That’s not a foul
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) September 3, 2020
Need that challenge back!!
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) September 3, 2020
That is a awful awful call!!!!
— Channing Frye (@channingfrye) September 3, 2020
With the game tied at 114, the Heat had a shot in snatching the game with one last possession. Jimmy Butler, who had quite an off night, had an isolation play against Wesley Matthews.
When Butler stepped back for a possible buzzer-beating jumper, Antetokounmpo helped out and challenged him from the side. The shot was short, but a whistle blew up as the buzzer sounded. Giannis was called for a last-second foul for touching Butler's body after he released the ball.
Jimmy salvaged his rough shooting night by converting both free throws and stealing the game away from Milwaukee.
Was this a make-up call from the officials? You be the judge:
Jimmy Butler gets the foul at the buzzer 😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/DYQUkCBcoK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 3, 2020
Some NBA players thought so and had quite the laugh:
😂
— Tim Hardaway Jr (@T_HardJR) September 3, 2020
Aye 😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) September 3, 2020
Hahahahahahahaha #Lmao
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) September 3, 2020
The game was so bizarre that Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green unprecedentedly agreed to both controversial calls.
Wow that’s two tough calls right there… probably right on both though
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) September 3, 2020
After Wednesday's loss, the Bucks are now in a deep 0-2 hole against the tough Heat squad and will need to find solutions quick if they want a chance to be back in the series. Game 3 between these two NBA heavyweights tips off on Friday.