© John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Adrian Griffin stands up for Giannis Antetokounmpo and gets ejected
For the second straight game, referees were quick to pull the trigger against the Milwaukee Bucks after coach Adrian Griffin got whistled for two straight technical fouls that led to his subsequent ejection.
Griffin was tossed in the third quarter, and the Milwaukee Bucks absorbed a 124-126 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night.
Two ejections in two nights
It was the second straight game that someone from the Bucks was tossed as Giannis Antetokounmpo was also ejected in the third quarter of the team’s 120-118 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.
“The first technical foul was for an overt reaction to a non-call on Giannis Antetokounmpo. The second was for disrespecting an official with profanity and per rule, two technical fouls, that is an automatic ejection,” Kevin Cutler, the chief of the referee crew that officiated the game, said in a Pool Report interview conducted by Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star.
While they escaped with a victory when Giannis was tossed against Detroit, the Bucks couldn’t overcome Griffin’s ejection despite getting a monster 54-point game from the Greek Freak. Milwaukee couldn’t protect a nine-point lead in the final five minutes, and saw its three-game win streak come to an end to fall to 5-3 in the season.
Coach Griffin got Giannis’ back
Griffin had vowed to stand up for Giannis, believing that his superstar is not getting the calls despite getting many hits. The rookie coach indeed stood up for Antetokounmpo, and although it led to his ejection, he has no regrets for sticking up for his best player.
“He’s such a great human being and he doesn’t complain and has the utmost respect for the referees, but I do feel responsible at times to just voice it. Obviously, your voice is choice and you have to be mindful of that, but it is my responsibility to make sure he’s protected out there,” said Griffin per Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
Griffin said Giannis took a few hits from the Indiana defenders but whistles were not blown on all occasions. Adrian apparently had seen enough and at the 7:52 mark of the third period, when he confronted the referees and was given two straight technical fouls.
“There were a couple hard fouls on him, almost back-to-back, one where it was wrapped around his back and neck and the next one, it was a two-hand push in the back. Just want to protect him out there, that’s all,” said Griffin.
