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Rivers blasts coach's challenge after 'awful' offensive foul call vs. Bucks

Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Doc Rivers might not waste any more time making a coach's challenge.

The Los Angeles Clippers head coach was incensed following his team's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday after referees refused to overturn a controversial offensive foul called on Lou Williams during a key moment in the fourth quarter.

"That was awful," Rivers said postgame, courtesy ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "It was. They should've overturned it. That's why I hate the rule."

On the play in question, Williams was attempting to drive past Eric Bledsoe, from whom he had just gained separation thanks to a screen by Montrezl Harrell. As Bledsoe caught up with Williams, the Clippers guard's right elbow came close to striking Bledsoe in the face, causing the latter to recoil and an offensive foul to be called on Williams.

"Nobody wants to be wrong. Let me just say that," Rivers continued. "You have to overturn that. Unless Bledsoe fouled Lou with his face, there was no foul on that play."

Replays appear to show Williams' elbow never made contact with Bledsoe. But referees upheld the call upon reviewing the incident after Rivers burned his only challenge of the game.

At the time of the play, the Clippers trailed by seven with 7:18 left in the contest. The Bucks immediately responded with seven straight points from Giannis Antetokounmpo as part of a 9-2 run, holding on to win 129-124.

Rivers was adamant Bledsoe embellished contact.

"There was a flop," Rivers said. "I think it (would've) been more of a chance that Bledsoe got a letter from the league about flopping than Bledsoe got fouled.

"That was awful. I don't like the rule anyway. I said it up front. And now I like it even less."

The NBA's board of governors approved the new coach's challenge rule over the summer and the league introduced it for the 2019-20 season. The rule allows coaches to trigger an immediate instant replay review following personal fouls called against their own teams, out-of-bounds violations, and goaltending or basket interference calls.

Challenges cannot be issued in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, and a timeout must be used to make one. In order for a call to be overturned, referees must judge there is "clear and conclusive visual evidence" the initial ruling on the floor was incorrect.

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