The referees missed a big call in the final minute of the Toronto Raptors’ 105-99 win in Milwaukee in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday night that hurt the Bucks.
Toronto had the ball and was getting ready to inbound up 100-97 with 23.4 seconds left. Marc Gasol threw a pass to Kawhi Leonard in the backcourt, who passed to Lowry. Lowry received the pass with just over 19 seconds left and was mugged by the Bucks, but no foul was called.
The Bucks don't get the foul on Lowry and Siakam gets the easy 2… pic.twitter.com/AHjLeQ0a0S
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) May 24, 2019
The lack of a foul call when Milwaukee was obviously trying to stop the clock and send Toronto to the line changed the game. Lowry passed to Pascal Siakam, who got an easy dunk thanks to Milwaukee not having any players by the basket as they sent everyone to foul. That gave the Bucks a 5-point lead with 16.3 seconds left. Had a foul been called, more time would have been left on the clock and Lowry would have had to make his free throws.
Milwaukee only made one more basket, while the Raptors went 3-for-4 on their remaining free throws. The odds of a Milwaukee comeback were slim at that point, but they existed. The no-call did not help them.
Toronto now leads the series 3-2. Game 6 will be on Saturday in Toronto.
