J.B. Bickerstaff and the Pistons were apoplectic over a non-call on the final play of their crushing Game 4 loss Sunday to the Knicks.
Josh Hart appeared to make contact with Tim Hardaway Jr. while closing out on the former Knicks’ last-second 3-point heave from the left corner.
But no foul was called and the Knicks held on for a 94-93 victory for their second straight win in Detroit and a 3-1 series lead.
Certainly looks like Tim Hardaway Jr got fouled on the final shot down by 1, but it wasn’t called and Knicks win pic.twitter.com/pbEiTEmop0 https://t.co/hm4Vd1PsMk
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) April 27, 2025
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After the game, crew chief David Guthrie told a pool reporter that a foul should have been called on Hart.
“During live play, it was judged that Josh Hart made a legal defensive play,” the statement read. “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 livid and stormed onto the court to plead with the referees, who let a physical play go on both sides throughout the game, for a foul call.
Game 5 is Tuesday at the Garden.
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham came up short on a mid-range jump shot with 7.1 seconds left with a chance to take the lead, before the ball found its way to Hardaway in the corner following a loose-ball scramble beneath the basket.
A closing Hart appeared to bump Hardaway on the hip as he hoisted his double-clutch attempt.
Hart also looked like he was fouled under the basket while going for the initial rebound in that sequence.