Bucks assistant, NBA ref ruled out for Suns-Bucks Game 5 of NBA Finals
Jul 17, 2021, 5:38 PM | Updated: 5:44 pm
Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks huddles his team during a timeout during the second half in Game Three of the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum on July 11, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks will be without assistant coach Josh Oppenheimer for Game 5 of the NBA Finals vs. the Phoenix Suns due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
“No, we won’t have a full staff,” Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said pregame on Saturday.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported that the Bucks wouldn’t have a full staff for Saturday’s game in wake of Milwaukee forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo entering the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols earlier in the day.
NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski added that this will be the third straight game that Oppenheimer will be away from Milwaukee’s bench.
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Additionally, NBA official Sean Wright, has been ruled out to officiate Game 5 of the Finals after entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols as well.
James Williams will step in to replace Wright to referee Game 5.
Wojnarowski added that Oppenheimer has been in contact tracing and there’s hope he could be back on bench for Game 6 on Tuesday.
Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Suns and Bucks tips off Saturday at 6 p.m. at Footprint Center.
Catch all the Finals action on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
