Pistons vs. Cavs final score: Unkind whistle, unacceptable mistakes doom Detroit

I’m going to make this recap short. I just got back from an absolutely infuriating basketball game with thousands of my Pistons fan friends, and way too many Cavs fans. Walking through the concourse and to the parking lot around a bunch of elated Cavs fans — who knew they got away with something — not fun! In the end, the Detroit Pistons lost 117-113 in overtime and now face a 3-2 deficit heading to Cleveland in a possible elimination game.

Look, the free-throw disparity that has plagued Detroit for the three games prior did not abate tonight. Detroit shot 20 free throws on their home floor and the Cavaliers shot 38. The most egregious was thanks to a bunch of James Harden contortions and selling calls. It was maddening.

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But most important was a critical no call that should have gone Detroit’s way and very well could have delivered the Pistons a victory. The Pistons had a nine-point lead with just under three minutes left but let it dwindle away and suddenly the game was tied and the Cavs had the ball on what could have been the final possession.

Ausar Thompson, who was brilliant all night, hounded Donovan Mitchell at the top of the key and blocked the ball from behind as Mitchell went up for a potential game-winning shot. As Ausar attempted to retrieve the loose ball he was clearly tripped by Jarrett Allen. A whistle sends Ausar to the free-throw line with two chances to put Detroit ahead with under 1.5 seconds left. But there was no whistle. Instead, the ball bounced across the floor and time expired.