Cade Cunningham Reacts to Game-Changing Moment in Cavs-Pistons Clash
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Cade Cunningham Reacts to Game-Changing Moment in Cavs-Pistons Clash
The Detroit Pistons had a nine-point lead with less than three minutes to play in Game 5. They were really that close to gaining control of the series. However, the Cleveland Cavaliers were quite simply continuing to do the same thing that they have done throughout the entire playoffs.
According to a clip shared by Hunter Patterson of The Athletic on X, Cade Cunningham addressed the controversial no-call on Ausar Thompson at the end of regulation.
The Pistons were in the bonus at the time, which means a foul would have sent Thompson to the free-throw line with a chance to win it without overtime.
“I mean, we all saw the play, I think it’s pretty clear it was a foul. He has the ball in his possession, he’s running forward, he gets tripped up. It’s a foul, it’s been a foul the whole rest of the game, it wasn’t a foul that time. But close game, I mean, nobody wants to make that call, I guess. Everybody just wants to allow the game to sort itself out. So nobody wants to interfere with it whenever it should have been a foul.”
Hunter Patterson
Cade Cunningham on the final play of regulation:
“We all saw the play, I think it’s pretty clear it was a foul. (Ausar) has the ball in his possession, he’s running forward, he gets tripped up. It’s a foul, it’s been a foul the whole rest of the game. Wasn’t a foul that time.”
What Happened on the Final Play of Regulation
Thompson stripped Donovan Mitchell on a drive, chased the loose ball, and then went down after contact from Jarrett Allen near the sideline as time expired. No whistle. Cunningham was not the only one furious about it either.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff echoed his star guard’s frustration: “(Jarrett Allen) fouled Ausar. It’s clear. He trips him when he’s going for a loose ball. End of game situation, that’s tough.”
Crew chief Tony Brothers explained the no-call after the game, saying both players were going for the ball and the leg contact was incidental, with neither player in possession at the time.
Cunningham finished with 39 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds in the loss. He was the best player on the floor for long stretches and had Detroit looking like the better team for most of the night.
Cavaliers Came Back Twice and the Pistons Could Not Stop Them
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GettyCade Cunningham Reacts to Game-Changing Moment in Cavs-Pistons Clash
Cleveland narrowed that nine-point deficit by a 9-0 run during the last three minutes of regulation, bringing the score to 103-103. Later, that run was extended to 13-0 as the beginning of overtime with Detroit remaining scoreless for five whole minutes across the two periods.
The Pistons made a comeback. With less than two minutes left in overtime, they reduced the lead to only four points, but James Harden was the one to take the game away by making two crucial free throws and even getting his own offensive rebound after a miss.
In the end, Cleveland secured the victory with a score of 117-113.
Harden scored a total of 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Mitchell, limited to 21 points after scoring 43 in Game 4, did enough in overtime to help secure the win.
Detroit now is down 3-2 and they are going to Cleveland for Game 6.