NBA says officials were right to withhold foul in Cavaliers-Pistons Game 5 finish
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The NBA ruled Thursday that referees acted properly when no foul was whistled against Cleveland center Jarrett Allen in the closing seconds of regulation during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons.
Cleveland went on to beat Detroit 117-113 in overtime Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. The late-game sequence drew scrutiny after Allen and Pistons guard Ausar Thompson collided while chasing a loose ball with the score tied at 103.
Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff argued after the game that Allen had “clearly” tripped Thompson, which would have sent the guard to the free-throw line. The league’s Last Two Minute Report issued the next day disagreed, stating that “Allen and Thompson legally step to the same spot while pursuing the loose ball, and both lose their balance from the marginal contact.”
Crew chief Tony Brothers offered a similar explanation in the postgame pool report, noting that the contact was incidental and that neither player had possession at the time.
The Cavaliers’ victory marked their first road win of the postseason. They can secure a berth in the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks with a win in Game 6 on Friday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Source: ESPN
