NBA Admits Officiating Mistake in Bucks-Magic Game

Missed foul call in final minutes could have impacted the outcome

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The NBA acknowledged that officials missed a foul call in the final minutes of the Milwaukee Bucks' 116-108 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The missed call, which the league's Last 2 Minute Report confirmed should have gone against Bucks player Cam Thomas, could have given the Magic a chance to cut the lead to five points with free throws in the closing seconds.

Why it matters

Officiating mistakes, especially in the final minutes of close games, can have a significant impact on the outcome. This missed call highlights the ongoing challenges the NBA faces in ensuring fair and consistent officiating across all games.

The details

With the Bucks leading 116-108 and less than 20 seconds remaining, the NBA's Last 2 Minute Report stated that Thomas should have been called for a foul on a 3-point attempt by the Magic's Jalen Suggs. The report noted that "Thomas (MIL) steps into Suggs' (ORL) lower body, affecting his jump shot attempt." Had the foul been called, the Magic would have been awarded three free throw attempts to potentially cut the lead to five points and make a late comeback attempt.

  • The missed foul call occurred with less than 20 seconds remaining in the game.

The players

Cam Thomas

A Bucks player who scored 34 points off the bench in the game, but was involved in the missed foul call in the final minutes.

Jalen Suggs

A Magic player who was fouled by Thomas on a 3-point attempt in the closing seconds, but the foul was not called by the officials.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Bucks star player who was out with a calf injury and did not play in the game.

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What they’re saying

“I've had Jamal Crawford. I had Lou Williams. And now, I have Cam Thomas. They're similar, but they're all different in their own ways. Cam wants to do right. He wants to play well. You can see that. And we're going to give him every opportunity. I mean, the guy is a natural scorer, and you can see that.”

— Doc Rivers, Bucks Head Coach (athlonsports.com)

What’s next

The NBA will likely review its officiating procedures and training to try to minimize such missed calls in the future. The Magic will look to bounce back after the All-Star break when they face the Sacramento Kings on February 19.

The takeaway

This missed call highlights the ongoing challenges the NBA faces in ensuring fair and consistent officiating, which can have a significant impact on close games. It also underscores the need for the league to continue improving its officiating processes and training to provide the best possible experience for players and fans.