NBA says referees were right to make no-call in controversial Pistons-Cavaliers play

The NBA league office declared that officials were right to withhold their whistles in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s Cavaliers-Pistons Game 5 in Detroit, won by Cleveland, 117-113, in OT.

NBA says referees were right to make no-call in controversial Pistons-Cavaliers play. The NBA league office declared that officials were right to withhold their whistles in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s Cavaliers-Pistons Game 5 in Detroit, won by Cleveland, 117-113, in OT. In a tie game with about a second left in regulation, Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen appeared to step on and trip Detroit’s Ausar Thompson as the latter went for the loose ball. Rather than call a foul and send Thompson to the line, the referees let play go on, sending the game to overtime. The Pistons were incensed after the game at the no-call. “[Jarrett Allen] fouled Ausar,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said during the postgame press conference. “It’s clear. He trips him when he’s going for a loose ball. End of game situation, that’s toug...