The Detroit Pistons are facing elimination after a Game 5 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. They had some notes for the officials on the way out.
The game hinged on a play at the end of regulation. The Cavaliers had roared back with a 9-0 run in the final three minutes and had the ball for the final 22 seconds. Donovan Mitchell was the pick for the would-be game-winner, but got smothered by Pistons defensive ace Ausar Thompson from the moment he touched the ball.
Thompson got the block in the paint and beat out a lunging Jarrett Allen for possession of the ball, only to immediately lose the ball after tripping over Allen’s foot. Time expired as the ball bounced out of bounds, sending the game to overtime.
The Pistons clearly thought the play should have been a foul on Allen, which would have given Thompson free throws as they were in the bonus.
A closer look:
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff appeared upset after the game, telling reporters the play was a clear foul:
“[Allen] fouled Ausar. It’s clear. He trips him when he’s going for a loose ball. End of game situation, that’s tough.”
The officials — perhaps hesitant to effectively decide the game with their whistles — disagreed. The Cavaliers then quickly took the lead in overtime and ultimately came out on top behind 30 points from James Harden.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 39 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds. In another world, he’s the hero of a pivotal Detroit win. Instead, he and his teammates are going to have to win in Cleveland just to force a winner-take-all Game 7.
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