Controversial Ending: New York Knicks narrowly defeat Detroit Pistons amid referee controversy
In a thrilling matchup at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks narrowly escaped with a 113-111 victory over the struggling Detroit Pistons. However, the game was not without its fair share of controversy, as a disputed call in the final seconds left the Pistons fuming and the Knicks celebrating.
The pivotal moment came with just 2.8 seconds left on the clock when Josh Hart of the Knicks made a game-winning layup. However, it was what happened earlier in the play that sparked outrage from the Pistons. Detroit’s Ausar Thompson appeared to be fouled by New York guard Donte DiVincenzo, but no call was made, leading to a chaotic and heated ending to the game.
Both teams had fought hard throughout the fourth quarter, exchanging the lead multiple times. Quentin Grimes, playing against his former team for the first time since being traded to Detroit, gave the Pistons a 111-110 lead with just 37 seconds remaining. The tension was palpable as Jalen Brunson of the Knicks missed a three-pointer on the next possession.
Then, chaos ensued. Detroit secured the rebound but quickly turned the ball over to the Knicks. DiVincenzo, in a moment of panic, threw the ball directly into Thompson’s path, almost costing New York the game. With the ball loose and the outcome hanging in the balance, both players went for it. DiVincenzo made significant contact with Thompson’s legs, but the referees did not blow their whistle.
Brunson managed to recover the ball and found Hart inside the paint, who made the go-ahead basket. Although a shooting foul was missed, New York grabbed the rebound, sealing their victory and leaving the Pistons stunned.
Pistons coach Monty Williams was livid after the game and expressed his frustration in a fiery rant during the postgame press conference. He called the no-call on Thompson’s foul “the absolute worst call of the season” and emphasized that it was an abomination to miss such a crucial moment in an NBA game. Williams stormed out of the press conference after just a minute, refusing to answer any questions from the media.
Interestingly, crew chief official James Williams acknowledged in the Pool Report that the referees had indeed made a mistake. He admitted that Thompson should have been awarded a loose ball foul on DiVincenzo, preventing the ball from finding its way back to Brunson. This acknowledgment may offer some consolation to the Pistons, knowing that their anger and frustration were justified.
While the Pistons were left reeling from the controversial ending, the New York Knicks seemed less concerned about the controversy. Josh Hart summed it up perfectly when he said, “We won. This is the NBA, man. We don’t care how we win. We don’t care how ugly it is.” The Knicks’ victory improved their record to 35-23, with Jalen Brunson leading the way with an impressive 35-point performance and 12 assists. Hart also played a crucial role, contributing 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block.
On the other hand, the Pistons’ Cade Cunningham put up an impressive 32 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win. The loss marked their sixth consecutive defeat, leaving them with the worst record in the NBA at 8-49. As a rebuilding franchise, the Pistons find themselves anchored to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
In the end, the controversial ending will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion among fans and analysts alike. The missed call and subsequent acknowledgment of the mistake by officials only add fuel to the fire. While the Knicks celebrate their hard-fought victory, the Pistons are left to ponder what could have been and hope for fairer officiating in future games.
