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The ending of Wednesday night’s Bucks-Pacers matchup was as chaotic as you could imagine all because Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted to retrieve the game ball from his 64-point performance.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle explained that his team took the game ball because Oscar Tshiebwe recorded his first NBA point.
The Bucks weren’t aware of that fact. They just wanted the ball because Antetokounmpo set a a franchise record. As a result, a wild scuffle broke out.
During this Wednesday’s postgame press conference, Carlisle revealed that Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan suffered a rib injury.
“There was a misunderstanding about the game ball. It was Oscar Tshiebwe’s first NBA point, so we always get the game ball,” Carlisle explained. “We were not thinking about Giannis’ franchise record so we grabbed the ball. A couple minutes later several of their players ended up in our hallway and there was a big fracas, melee, whatever.
“I don’t think any punches were landed, but my general manager got elbowed in the ribs by one of their players. He certainly has a bruised rib, but who knows if it’s anything more than that.”
Rick Carlisle explains what happened after the final buzzer in Milwaukee. Says the Pacers’ GM caught an elbow from a player. pic.twitter.com/jjzDjhuYIW
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 14, 2023
Hopefully, Buchanan’s rib injury isn’t worse than expected.
The NBA will have to sort out this mess between the Bucks and Packers.