The Cleveland Cavaliers took a 3-2 series lead over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, getting the overtime win behind another late surge from Donovan Mitchell. But some allege that the Cavs’ win also came as a result of a controversial non-call right 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 may have drawn a foul off Jarrett Allen, with Thompson ending up on the floor.
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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 a close game — for Wednesday’s matchup, officials confirmed that the supposedly missed foul drawn by Thompson was a correct non-call.
“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 made in the last two minutes of regulation and the last two minutes of OT, including other key fouls and turnovers, were correct calls and correct non-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 to give Cleveland the 117-113 win.
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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 that Bickerstaff has expressed his 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 disparity between free throws “unacceptable.” Mitchell, who finished with 43 points, scored more free throws (13-of-26 from the line) than the entire Pistons team attempted (9-of-12 overall).
“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.”
Both teams return to Cleveland for Game 6 on Friday. If the Cavaliers don’t get the win, the series will then go back to Detroit for Game 7 on Sunday.
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