J.B. Bickerstaff and the Pistons had been apoplectic over a non-call on the ultimate play of their crushing Sport 4 loss Sunday to the Knicks.
Josh Hart appeared to make contact with Tim Hardaway Jr. whereas closing out on the previous Knicks’ last-second 3-point heave from the left nook.
However no foul was referred to as and the Knicks held on for a 94-93 victory for his or her second straight win in Detroit and a 3-1 collection lead.
After the sport, crew chief David Guthrie instructed a pool reporter {that a} foul ought to have been referred to as on Hart.
“During live play, it was judged that Josh Hart made a legal defensive play,” the assertion learn. “After postgame review, we observed that Hart makes body contact that is more than marginal to Hardaway Jr. and a foul should have been called.”
After the buzzer sounded, Bickerstaff was furious and stormed onto the court docket to plead with the referees, who let a bodily play go on either side all through the sport, for a foul name.
Sport 5 is Tuesday on the Backyard.
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham got here up brief on a mid-range soar shot with 7.1 seconds left with an opportunity to take the lead, earlier than the ball discovered its method to Hardaway within the nook following a loose-ball scramble beneath the basket.
A closing Hart appeared to bump Hardaway on the hip as he hoisted his double-clutch try.
Hart additionally regarded like he was fouled beneath the basket whereas going for the preliminary rebound in that sequence.
“There’s contact on Tim Hardaway’s jump shot. I don’t know any other way around it, there’s contact on his jump shot,” Bickerstaff stated after the sport. “The guy leaves his feet, he’s at Timmy’s mercy. I repeat, there’s contact on his jump shot.”
