Boston Celtics Very Upset With Officiating in Game 3 vs Bucks

The Boston Celtics lost the home court advantage they created in Milwaukee a couple of days ago. After tonight’s loss at the TD Garden, 116-123, the Bucks took the lead in the series, and have an edge in the series again.

The Celtics’ players are feeling bad after this match, but not only because of their loss. The hosts think that the officials affected the overall result and that they damaged their chances of winning tonight’s contest.

They were ahead up until the middle of the third period when Milwaukee took both the lead and the momentum. After that, the Bucks quickly created a double-digit lead and kept the safe distance.

Boston’s players believe, however, that Milwaukee’s run wasn’t all because of their great play. The guests had 17 free throws in the third period alone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkZbUF-y2AE

It is something which deeply disturbed the hosts.

Kyrie Irving was pretty direct after the game when talking about the officiating. According to Uncle Drew, all those free throws slowed the game down, and the fact that Giannis went on the free throw line several times in a row, makes the case even more obvious.

He was very upset with the fact that Giannis had 22 free throws tonight.

“He shot 22 on the game,” said Kyrie. “I mean it’s just getting ridiculous at this point. It’s just slowing the game down.”

When one of the reporters asked him about the calls in the third period and whether that might have interrupted their rhythm and the flow of the game, boosting the Bucks, Kyrie said next.

“It’s inevitable. A guy comes out, six times in a row gets free throws.”

He wasn’t the only one who pointed towards the officials.

Jason Tatum also made it clear that the referees are to blame for Celtics’ loss, only this guy didn’t do that by commenting on their actions. He did quite the opposite, declined to speak anything. Still. Sometimes silence tells more than words.

Tatum was asked to say did his team felt a little bit discouraged with all the fouls given in the third period.

“I don’t comment on officiating, and I keep my money,” he said smiling to all the questions which included talks about the officials.

The change of the foul criteria was pretty apparent last night. The first half saw 14 fouls on both sides, while the second ended with 39.

Meanwhile. Mike Budenholzer has a different view on all, saying that Giannis’ style is something which allows him to end up on the free throw line a lot.

“He’s just such a force. He can get through cracks,” Budenholzer said. “He’s going to finish or get to the free throw line a lot if he keeps playing like this.”

He ended the game last with 32 points, 13 boards, and 8 assists, having shot only 13 times from the field, and recording 16 points from the free throw line.

Still, it would be unfair to say that the rest of Milwaukee’s team didn’t do much, especially in the third period. It could be correct saying that all this initiated Bucks’ run, but it needs to be mentioned that they missed only two out of eight three-point attempts in that sequence.

Game 4 will take place at the same venue this Monday. The tensions will be much higher after this contest, and there is no doubt that the pressure on the officials would be much higher.

Since the playoffs have started there is a lot of talking about the bad officiating, and in most cases, the stories are valid.

The situation is pretty simple before Monday’s meeting. Boston can’t lose. If they do that, Milwaukee will have two match-points at their Fiserv Forum.

Meanwhile, Bucks will enter this game with far lower pressure than in Game 3.

Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET.