The Cleveland Cavaliers took a 3-2 series lead over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, getting the 117-113 overtime win behind another late surge from Donovan Mitchell. But some believe the Cavs’ win may have been helped by a controversial non-call at the end of regulation.
With seconds left on the clock, Pistons forward Ausar Thompson got a block on Mitchell to keep the game tied. But as Thompson went to collect the ball, he fell to the ground after getting his feet tangled with Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
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On Thursday, though, the NBA stood by the non-call. In the Last Two Minute Report — the league’s review of calls made in the final two minutes of close games — for Wednesday’s matchup, officials confirmed the supposedly missed foul drawn by Thompson was correct.
“Allen (CLE) and Thompson (DET) legally step to the same spot while pursuing the loose ball [before either player has possession], and both lose their balance from the marginal contact,” the league wrote in the report.
In all, the NBA concluded that all officiating in the last two minutes of regulation and the last two minutes of OT, including other key fouls and turnovers, were correct calls.
Given that the Pistons were in the bonus at the time of the foul, Thompson would have had the chance to hit two potentially game-winning free throws. Instead, the game went to overtime, where Mitchell scored seven of his 21 total points.
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Postgame, Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff called it a “clear” foul on Thompson.
“It’s clear. He trips him when he’s going for a loose ball,” Bickerstaff said simply. “End of game situation, that’s tough.”
This is the second game in a row Bickerstaff has expressed disagreement with the officiating. On Monday, after another late Detroit collapse and a historic performance from Mitchell led to another Cleveland win, Bickerstaff called the Game 4 free-throw disparity “unacceptable.” Mitchell finished with 43 points and hit more free throws (13-of-26) than the entire Pistons team attempted (9-of-12).
“What was done out there tonight, it’s frustrating,” Bickerstaff said. “But we can’t allow that to be the reason why. … But again, when you look at the foul count, you look at the disparity, that’s hard to overcome. And you wonder the reason why.”
The teams return to Cleveland for Game 6 on Friday. If the Cavaliers don’t close it out, the series will then go back to Detroit for Game 7 on Sunday.