Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin has had his say on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ejection in their hard-fought 120-118 win over the Detroit Pistons at the Fiserv Forum on Wednesday night.
Griffin said he was surprised at the referee’s call after Giannis was sent off for his second technical for apparently taunting a player after an emphatic dunk.
The Greek-Nigerian was left bemused after the referee awarded him his second technical foul of the game after dunking on Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. Giannis’ hand gesture towards Stewart portrayed his huge size advantage as he taunted the Piston’s center for being ‘too small’.
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— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 9, 2023
Griffin, who is in his first year with the Bucks, said: “I think I just have to do a better job. You know, Giannis doesn’t complain to the refs. He’s really respectful to the refs.
“And I think I’m letting him down in that sense because I think I need to be a little more just vocal during the games when he’s getting hit and kind of stick up for him a little bit better. So, I’ve been dropping the ball on that.
“It’s an emotional game, he made a phenomenal play. It was exciting and emotional. I thought he moved on fairly quickly. So I was surprised with the second technical. But, you know, that’s up to the league to decide.”
With Giannis out for the rest of the game, Detroit overturned the Bucks’ 13-point lead with a 35-14 run to go into the fourth quarter, leading the home team 95-90.
However, Damian Lillard, who finished the game with 34 points, took over Milwaukee’s scoring in the final quarter by pouring in 18 points, scoring on a drive and hitting a jumper to put the Bucks up 116-115 with 1:10 on the clock.
A sweeping team move in which all Bucks’ players on the court touched the ball ended with Brook Lopez hitting a clutch three to put them up four with less than 43 seconds to go. Although Cade Cunningham replied with a 3-pointer of his for the Pistons, Milwaukee held on for their third straight win and second consecutive win at Fiserv Forum.
Comeback complete!#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/Alk0VBoQwu
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 9, 2023
Antetokounmpo managed 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting and a team-high nine rebounds and five assists, along with three blocks, in 22 minutes before his ejection.
Bobby Portis came off the bench and added 18 points and 5 rebounds, while Lopez finished with 14 points, 6 rebounds, four 3s, and four blocks in 26 minutes for Milwaukee, whose five starters and two bench players finished in double figures.
