The Milwaukee Bucks suffered a devastating loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday in Game 2 of their second-round matchup in the East. The Bucks are now in a deep 2-0 hole, and for Milwaukee head coach Mike Budenholzer, he could not help but criticize the officiating at the end of what was a tightly-contested game.
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was whistled for a foul on Jimmy Butler with no time left on the clock, which allowed the Heat swingman to win the game for Miami at the line. For his part, coach Budenholzer was clearly not in agreement with the call.
“I’d say we’re disappointed with the judgment, the decision, the timing. It’s a tough job. I have a lot of respect for the officials. We have our way of seeing things. We’re going to disagree,” Budenholzer said, via Ira Winderman (h/t Larry Brown Sports).
Giannis did have his hands on Butler after the latter released his last-second shot, which was why he was charged for the foul. However, as Budenholzer expressed above, the call was contentious to say the least.
To be fair, the Bucks did get a break themselves on the opposite end of the floor in the previous play. Heat guard Goran Dragic was also called for another controversial foul on Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton on a 3-point attempt. Middleton sank all three free-throws to tie the game.
Whatever the case may be, this is all water under the bridge at this point. The Heat are now in a great position to pull off a huge upset against the league-best Bucks, and are just two wins away from the Eastern Conference Finals.
