Imagine a game gets out of hand and your national broadcast partner decides to cut the feed.
In a sense, that's what TNT did in short order Thursday night in the third quarter of the Bucks' 135-102 blowout win over the Celtics.
With Milwaukee winning 100-62, the network cut the game back to studio host Ernie Johnson in an attempt to shift viewers to another contest.
“So this game is clearly out of control,” Johnson said after the broadcast was cut. “100-62 is the score for Milwaukee. The Celtics are resting their remaining starters the rest of the night, so we're thinking, let's see what else is going on in the league.”
At one point it sounded like the plan was to throw it at the Thunder vs. Trail Blazers game.
“By the way, Oklahoma City leads by 36 points at the half, so we're not going there,” he said with a laugh.
TNT decided to take a look at the Knicks vs. Mavericks game, which was also a blowout loss.
“We're going to take on the Knicks and Mavs. It's a 47-28 game, but it's closer than what's going on in the mean city,” Johnson said.
TNT eventually drew viewers back to Milwaukee in the fourth quarter, by which point the score was a little more swollen, 111-73.
“Thanks to Ernie Johnson for showing us around the league, if only to have us here on TNT,” one of the broadcasters said. “Ernie needs a break.”
The Bucks ended up beating the Celtics, and Bobby Portis and Giannis Antetokounmpo both had great nights.
Portis finished the game with 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from 3-point range.
Antetokounmpo scored 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting and had six assists.
Both players each pulled down 12 boards.
