Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s 43 points and 13 rebounds. THE Milwaukee Bucks lost 113-107 At Boston Celtics on Sunday.
Yet after the game, Celtics players expressed irritation with Antetokounmpo and his behavior on the court. Jaylen Brown was particularly blunt with his feelings about the Bucks star.
“Giannis is a kid,” Brown said, via NBC Sports Boston. “I’m just focused on helping my team get a win. And that’s what we did tonight.”
If Brown’s irritation was over Antetokounmpo’s fake handshake, something you might see in a fourth grader on the playground, it seems rather humorless. However, he was asked about an offensive foul committed by Antetokounmpo before the exchange on the court, which further explains Brown’s response.
On the play in question, Antetokounmpo swung his left elbow and hit Brown in the side of the head as he attempted a shot in the lane.
As he returned to the court, Antetokounmpo attempted a slap or handshake with Brown, as if to say “No hard feelings.” Brown was about to grudgingly acknowledge the gesture. But when Antetokounmpo pulled his hand away to pass the hair, it showed insincerity If Brown was already upset about being elbowed in the head, the fake handshake surely made him angry.
Asked about Brown calling him a child, Antetokounmpo seemed surprised.
“Oh, is that what he said?” he replied. “Shit.”
That wasn’t the only controversial play Antetokounmpo was involved in on Sunday. Earlier in the game, he extended his left leg as Jayson Tatum shot a three-pointer. This caused Tatum’s ankle to roll as he landed on Antetokounmpo’s foot.
Antetokounmpo was not called for a touchdown foul, which Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla complained about after the game.
“It’s ridiculous” Mazzulla told reporters. “I can’t miss this. I can’t miss this.”
“I could have been out for 6 weeks…for it to be a no-call…it’s frustrating.”
Jayson Tatum reacts to Giannis’ missed call where he rolled his ankle and how he kept his cool pic.twitter.com/YaG45RrUr5
– Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) November 11, 2024
Naturally, Tatum was upset about the non-call and his ankle pain as well.
"There are certain calls that I think you can’t miss," Tatum said. “Your job is to protect the guys on the field, to protect the shooter. That’s something, I could have been out for six weeks or whatever.”
“For it to be a no call, let alone they couldn’t even examine it or look at it, then I lose my shit, insult someone, then get a tech, c “It’s like a double whammy,” he added. “It’s… it’s frustrating.”
Tatum finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds, as his team also earned the victory. A matchup between the Celtics and Bucks would have seemed like a potential Eastern Conference playoff matchup this season. Still, due to Milwaukee’s struggles, a playoff bid seems questionable at this point. But there is still a good part of the season to play.
The Celtics and Bucks will play again on Dec. 5 in Boston, unless the two face each other in the NBA Cup season tournament.
