The Detroit Pistons lost a close game to the Western Conference leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, giving fans plenty of reasons to be upset.
Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff called out the night's officiating crew for alleged disrespect after the Pistons' 113-107 loss, while Detroit fans quickly focused their frustrations on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder's MVP candidate who was called out for alleged "foul baiting" vs. Detroit's oftentimes stifling, athletic young defense.
Fans singled out one particular play to demonstrate how they believe Gilgeous-Alexander was getting away with too much on one side of the court in particular during Saturday night's Thunder victory.
Pistons super fan 'Pistons Jack,' a social media influencer whose real name is Jack Kelly, shared a short video clip of Gilgeous-Alexander attempting to push off on the Pistons' former first round pick and current small forward Ausar Thompson.
Gilgeous-Alexander appeared to initiate the contact but shot backwards as if he were the one was pushed. Pistons fans singled out the play as evidence of foul baiting from the Thunder guard, as part of a series of allegations that have been levied by fans in recent weeks.
"You'll never guess who the foul was on," Kelly wrote, adding a small clown head graphic to his message.
"What a joke, man."
You'll never guess who the foul was on
What a joke, man pic.twitter.com/tk4JjjihoB
— Pistons Jack (@pistons_jack) March 16, 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 48 points on the night as Detroit fell in the Motor City.
"Ausar doin everything he can, genuinely feel bad for him," one fan wrote.
"Bro the defender flopped," another said.
"A free throw merchant, this is why Joker is the real MVP," another fan added.
"Weird how I got nothing against OKC but these refs do their best to make me hate them," another fan said.
Fans of the Celtics, Cavaliers and other top teams have posted similar accusations against the Thunder MVP candidate in recent weeks.
The foul baiting is happening already…
SGA is clever but that's not a foul on a shot attempt.
That's SGA putting his arm artificially into Mickey's and then going up with a shot attempt to give the appearance of a foul on the shot. pic.twitter.com/uhq7dL40L9
— RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) January 9, 2025
Related: Pistons' JB Bickerstaff Pounds Podium in Frustration After 'Disgusting' Officiating vs. Thunder
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This story was originally published March 15, 2025 at 10:50 PM.