With the score tied at 101-101, Ball received the ball at the top of the key and drove towards the basket. Antetokounmpo, who had been guarding him closely all night, backed off and began taunting Ball, telling him he couldn’t hit a shot.

Undeterred, Ball pulled up from the three-point line and buried the shot, giving the Hornets a 104-101 lead. As the ball went through the hoop, Ball turned to Antetokounmpo and pointed at him, a clear sign of disrespect.

“I was just trying to stay focused and make the play,” Ball said after the game. “He was talking a lot of trash, but I knew I could hit the shot. I just had to stay confident.”

Antetokounmpo, who finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds, declined to comment on the incident.

The win was a major boost for the Hornets, who are now 10-5 this season. It was also a personal triumph for Ball, who has been struggling with his shot in recent games.

“It was a big shot for us,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “LaMelo has been working hard, and it was great to see him come up big in a clutch situation.”

The incident highlights the growing rivalry between the Hornets and Bucks, who are both contenders in the Eastern Conference. The two teams will face off again on March 10th in Milwaukee.

The NBA has fined Antetokounmpo $25,000 for his conduct. The league said in a statement that Antetokounmpo’s actions violated the NBA’s Code of Conduct.