The Milwaukee Bucks battled it out with the Denver Nuggets in Colorado even if they were without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard
Apr 30, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo watch from the bench during the first quarter during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Antetokounmpo was removed from the line-up hours before the tip-off due to a sprained left foot he suffered in two-point loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
Lillard, meanwhile, is out indefinitely because of deep vein thrombosis which experts say will take at least three months to recover from.
The team lost but they made a gallant effort to kept the game competitive. All starters scored in double digits while two others from the bench scored more than 10 points, too.
Brook Lopez, Nikola Jokic
Mar 26, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball as Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) guards in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Brook Lopez led the way with his 26 points on 12 out of 17 shooting. He also had seven rebounds, and three assists.
Gary Trent Jr., who is typically a 6th man, was inserted to the starting unit and still delivered as usual with his 16 points. Kevin Porter Jr. in place of Ryan Rollins who got the start since Lillard was declared unavailable, had 12 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists.
Milwaukee Bucks victim of yet another poor officiating
Doc Rivers bemoaned the poor officiating in loss to the Suns, particularly the play in the sixth minute that involved Brook Lopez which he said turned into a six-point swing. He though the Splash Mountain should have gotten and and-1 for the foul that was whistled.
He has the same problem. The difference is he though the wrong call in the game against Denver basically ended their aspiration to win.
The play in question involves AJ Green who was streaking to the basket with 3:18 seconds to go. He was bumped by a Nuggets defender but no foul was called. Instead, Denver scored on the other end.
Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers
Mar 24, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers yells at NBA referee Natalie Sago (9) during the fourth quarter of the game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Rivers thought there was enough contact for it to be called a foul. He also suggested that it killed their chance to win the game.
“It’s really frustrating when you play that hard and officials don’t make (the call). There was three minutes left in the game, but it’s a six-point game and we have 4-on-2 numbers. We’re at least gonna get a lay-up. Or a 3. The way we were shooting the ball, it was probably going to be a 3-point game. Instead, it goes to an eight-point game and so, the game in a lot of ways is over. And so you’re right that it was an absolute foul. And you’re right, it was a game-changing no call.”
Asked Doc Rivers what he saw that upset him about the officiating in tonight’s loss to the Nuggets.
He asked me what I saw.
Me: “It looked like there was some contact in transition on AJ Green.” (video below)
Rivers: “Right? So, I’m not going to say it. The media said it.” pic.twitter.com/23edKEGVwt
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) March 27, 2025
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