Pistons’ Cade Cunningham takes a subtle dig at refs over disputed missed call

The Detroit Pistons must be regretting the way they threw away a golden opportunity to go up 3-2 in their semifinal series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Up by nine, 103-94, with 3:00 to go, the Pistons’ offense struggled as the Cavs woke up. Cleveland scored nine straight points to tie the game, and the Cavs even had a chance to win the game in regulation on a Donovan Mitchell attempt. Ausar Thompson, however, came to the rescue and clamped Mitchell up, sending the game to OT.

But before the final buzzer had sounded in regulation, Thompson appeared to be on the receiving end of a trip from Jarrett Allen — and with the Cavs being in the penalty, a foul call could have sent the Pistons forward to the foul line with a chance to regain the lead. In the end, the officials swallowed their whistles, the game went to overtime, and the Cavs came out on top, 117-113, to take a 3-2 series lead.

While Thompson had already said that he’s not blaming the officials for the Pistons’ loss, Cunningham isn’t as compliant. In his postgame presser, the Pistons star took a subtle dig at the referees for failing to make the call that could have swung the game in Detroit’s favor.

"Nobody wants to make that call I guess"

Cade Cunningham on the potential foul call on Ausar Thompson late in the fourth

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— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 14, 2026

This might be the classic case of, if that interaction happened earlier in the game, the referees would not have had any issues with calling a foul on Allen.

Be that as it may, the Pistons can scarcely blame others for letting go of a nine-point lead with the time winding down in the fourth quarter, as they would not have been in a position where the officials could decide their fate had they taken care of business earlier in the period.

The Pistons are still alive, although they will have to be perfect from here on out as they face elimination on the road in Game 6 on Friday night.

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