In the closing seconds of regulation during Game 5 between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, referees did not call a foul on Cleveland's Jarrett Allen after contact with Pistons' Ausar Thompson while both chased a loose ball. The Pistons lost 117-113 in overtime, leaving the series 3-2 in favor of the Cavaliers [1, 2, 3].

Pistons star Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 39 points and criticized the missed call, saying, "We all saw the play, I think it's pretty clear it was a foul" [1]. Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff also faulted the officials, stating, "[Allen] fouled Ausar. It's clear. He trips him when he's going for a loose ball" [1, 3]. However, Thompson himself refrained from blaming the referees, saying, "Can't blame the refs. We can't put ourselves in these positions" [1].

NBA officials defended the no-call, describing the contact as incidental. Crew chief Tony Brothers explained, "During live play, both players were going for the ball and there was incidental contact with the legs with no player having possession of the ball" [2]. Brothers added, "No, there was incidental contact on the play. The play will be reviewed by the league office tomorrow and it will be posted in the L2M" (Last Two Minutes) report [2]. The league later released that report affirming the call was correct [2, 3].

At the tied score of 103-103, had the foul been called, Thompson would have taken free throws with less than a second left in regulation [1, 2, 3]. Pistons broadcast analyst Tim Legler commented, "That's a trip right there. There's a couple of tenths left when that happens" [3].

The Pistons attempted 12 free throws in the previous game, compared to Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell’s 15 attempts [3]. Bickerstaff criticized inconsistency in officiating, saying, "It’s unacceptable, it is. We didn’t do enough honestly to help ourselves, and I’ll start there. But ever since we came to Cleveland, the whistle has changed" [3].

Game 6 is scheduled for Friday in Cleveland, where a Cavaliers victory would clinch the Eastern Conference finals berth [2, 3].