In a tense Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series, the Detroit Pistons faced a controversial loss to the New York Knicks, finishing 94-93. Tim Hardaway Jr. claimed he was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer on the final play, a sentiment later echoed by the NBA, which admitted that a foul should have been called on Knicks player Josh Hart. Had the foul been recognized, Hardaway would have received three free throws with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock.
Despite the NBA’s acknowledgment of the missed call, the Pistons were left disappointed as the game concluded without an official foul being awarded. Hardaway described the contact as “blatant,” underscoring the team’s frustration. Crew chief David Guthrie explained that while Hart was deemed to have made a legal defensive play during the game, the postgame review revealed the contact was significant enough to warrant a foul.
Hart conceded that he did make contact but questioned whether it was legal. The NBA’s two-minute report typically reviews calls in close games, yet in this instance, the missed call was highlighted due to the submitted team report. After the game’s conclusion, Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff expressed his anger, stating, “There’s contact on Tim Hardaway’s jump shot,” yet he was unable to challenge the non-call as the team had already used their challenge.
The final moments were tense, as Cade Cunningham missed a jump shot leading to Hardaway receiving the ball. After faking a shot, he was clearly contacted by Hart. Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns remained noncommittal regarding the incident, focusing instead on their advancement in the series. This outcome left Detroit fuming, trailing 3-1 as they headed into Game 5.
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