Smart: Giannis charge overturned because refs 'didn't want' him out

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he will not force players to stand during the anthem, saying that "I respect our teams' unified act of peaceful protest for social justice and under these unique circumstances will not enforce our long-standing rule requiring standing during the playing of our national anthem".

However, officials overturned the call upon review, and Smart wasn't pleased with their explanation. It was Giannis' sixth foul.

"They just said he didn't get hit in the stomach", Brad Stevens said after the game. "They said the replay center said that I was late and it was a block. So we moved on".

The play, which came at the 1-minute, 28-second mark of the fourth quarter, would have given the ball back to the Celtics with the score tied at 107.

Antetokounmpo's initial focus when the restart kicks off will be to not let that excitement overwhelm him and affect his game in a non-positive fashion.

Antetokounmpo's basket counted as a result of Smart's blocking foul, and he completed the 3-point play at the free-throw line to put the Bucks up for good.

"First of all, that's his opinion", Antetokounmpo said of Smart afterward.

"We knew eventually we'll make a run and that's what we did. We can't wait until we're down 15 or 12 to start fighting, we've got to fight right off the bat".