DETROIT — A controversial no-call in the final moments has the Detroit Pistons on edge after a heartbreaking 94-93 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday.
Karl-Anthony Towns drained a go-ahead three-pointer with 46.6 seconds remaining and finished with 27 points, while Jalen Brunson starred with 32 points and 11 assists, giving the Knicks a 3-1 series advantage.
The Pistons’ last chance came when Tim Hardaway Jr. launched a three-pointer just before the buzzer and appeared to draw contact from New York’s Josh Hart. No foul was called, but after the game, crew chief David Guthrie admitted the officials missed the call.
“After postgame review, we observed that Hart makes body contact that is more than marginal to Hardaway Jr. and a foul should have been called,” Guthrie said.
Had the foul been called, Hardaway would have had a chance to win the game at the free-throw line.
Instead, the Knicks held on, overcoming an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to steal the win. Towns helped fuel the comeback, hitting a tough turnaround jumper before sinking a deep three that ultimately made the difference.
“He shoots the ball like a guard and has unlimited range,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau praised Towns afterward.
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham delivered an incredible effort with 25 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds for his first playoff triple-double — just the third in franchise history alongside Pistons legend Isiah Thomas, who was in attendance. Yet, Cunningham missed two critical shots and committed a costly turnover in the final minute.
“It’s a heavy burden on him, but he has come through for us many times,” said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Despite a strong third quarter from Detroit — highlighted by Cunningham’s 12-point outburst — New York stayed composed. Brunson even shook off a late injury scare after briefly leaving the game with a right leg issue.
“Moments like that, you just have to take a breath and relax,” Brunson said after returning to finish the game.
The Pistons, now on the brink of elimination, face a tall task heading into Game 5 in New York on Tuesday night. They have now tied an NBA record with nine straight home playoff losses, matching the mark previously set by Philadelphia between 1968 and 1971.