Ausar Thompson no-call infuriates Pistons, but not like Game 5 flop

Yahoo Sports1h ago10 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

The Detroit Pistons were outraged by a no-call on Ausar Thompson during a critical moment in Game 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which ended in a 117-113 loss. The no-call prevented Thompson from potentially winning the game at the free-throw line.

Key points

Ausar Thompson was fouled but no call was made
Pistons lost Game 5 to the Cavaliers 117-113
The no-call occurred in a critical moment of the game
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff criticized the officiating decision

Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers

With Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on the line, Ausar Thompson mirrored Donovan Mitchell's drive to the rim and swatted his shot attempt from behind. Thompson was then bumped and tripped from behind by Jarrett Allen as he secured the rebound.

The Detroit Pistons – both players and coaches – believed Thompson was fouled. The Little Caesars Arena crowd believed Thompson was fouled (aside from perhaps a portion bused up from Cleveland. The problem for the Pistons? Referee Tony Brothers didn't blow his whistle, and the clock expired to send the game into overtime tied at 103 on Wednesday, May 13.

The Cleveland Cavaliers went on to win, 117-113, to take a 3-2 series lead home to Ohio. The no-call on Thompson was controversial in the moment and a pain point for the Pistons after the game. Had it been called, Thompson would've gone to the line with mere seconds left with a chance to win it and give his team control of the series.

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"He fouled Ausar," coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "It’s clear. He trips him when he’s going for a loose ball. End-of-game situation, that’s tough."

Instead, the Pistons will travel to Cleveland on Friday tasked with fighting off elimination. But they have to blame themselves first, rather than the officials.

They led by nine points with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The no-call was enabled by the Pistons' collapse in the waning moments of the game, which players acknowledged during postgame interviews. The Pistons led the Cavaliers for more than 36 minutes – three-fourths of the game – and by as many as 15 points.

With an opportunity to seal the win, they missed shot after shot in the closing minutes and allowed Cleveland to end the fourth on a 9-0 run.

Q&A

What happened during Ausar Thompson's no-call in Game 5?

Ausar Thompson was fouled by Jarrett Allen while securing a rebound, but the referee did not call the foul, leading to controversy.

How did the no-call affect the Pistons' chances in the game?

Had the foul been called, Thompson would have had a chance to win the game at the free-throw line, potentially giving the Pistons control of the series.

What was the final score of the Game 5 matchup between the Pistons and Cavaliers?

The Cleveland Cavaliers won the game 117-113, taking a 3-2 series lead.

Who commented on the controversial no-call against Ausar Thompson?

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff expressed his frustration, stating that it was clear Thompson was fouled during the end-of-game situation.