Game 5 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons came down to the wire in regulation. A crucial stand from Pistons guard Ausar Thompson in the final moments of the fourth quarter ensured that the game would go to overtime. However, many NBA fans contend that the game should not have gone to overtime because of a missed call on the ensuing play.
After Thompson stripped the ball from a driving Donovan Mitchell, the Pistons guard attempted to chase the ball. While going for the ball, Thompson got tangled up with Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen. Despite getting tripped up while chasing the ball, there was no foul called on the play. The guard was visibly agitated after the play, asking for a foul from the referees. This was a surprise to more than a few NBA fans, who felt that there should have been a call.
Longtime referee Tony Brothers was naturally asked about the play after the game. According to the veteran official, there was no call on the play because the contact between Thompson and Allen was incidental.
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“During live play, both players were going for the ball and there was incidental contact with the legs with no player having possession of the ball,” the veteran NBA referee said after the game, per Harrison Sanford. Brothers also said that the play will be reviewed by the league office tomorrow, and that the results will be posted on the Last 2 Minutes report of the game tomorrow.
The Cavaliers would go on to win in overtime, 117-113. James Harden led the Cavaliers with 30 points, while Max Strus came off the bench with 20 huge points. On the other side, Cade Cunningham scored a whopping 39 points for the Pistons, who now find themselves in an elimination game for the fourth time in the 2026 NBA postseason.
Game 6 will be played in Cleveland on Friday.
Game 5 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons came down to the wire in regulation. A crucial stand from Pistons guard Ausar Thompson in the final moments of the fourth quarter ensured that the game would go to overtime. However, many NBA fans contend that the game should not have gone to overtime because of a missed call on the ensuing play.