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The New York Knicks secured a narrow victory against the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday afternoon, clinching a 94-93 win in a game marked by a controversial ending.
In the final moments, Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns delivered two clutch shots that pushed New York ahead by a single point. The tension escalated as the game drew to a close.
With less than 10 seconds remaining, Cade Cunningham and the Pistons had a chance to reclaim the lead. Cunningham, aiming for a clean shot from the foul line, unfortunately missed, leading to a scramble for the rebound. The ball found its way to Tim Hardaway Jr. in the corner, where he attempted to draw a foul from Knicks guard Josh Hart by leaning into him. Despite Hardaway’s efforts, the referee did not call a foul, resulting in another missed shot.
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, visibly agitated, charged onto the court to voice his displeasure. He was caught on camera expressing his frustration towards the officials, stating, ‘That’s a f—ing foul.’ The referees, however, maintained their decision, allowing the Knicks to take a 3-1 lead in the series.
After the game, Bickerstaff shared his thoughts regarding the decisive play. He firmly believed that contact occurred during Hardaway’s jump shot, stating, ‘There’s contact on Tim Hardaway’s jump shot. I don’t know any other way around it, there’s contact on his jump shot. Hart leaves his feet; he’s at Timmy’s mercy. I repeat, there’s contact on his jump shot.’
Following the conclusion of the game, NBA officials acknowledged that a mistake had been made in their judgment. Crew chief David Guthrie explained, ‘During live play, it was judged that Josh Hart made a legal defensive play. 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.’
Towns ended the game with an impressive 27 points and nine rebounds, contributing significantly to the Knicks’ victory. Jalen Brunson was the standout player for New York, scoring 32 points and providing 11 assists despite struggling with an ankle injury.
Cunningham’s impressive performance featured 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, but ultimately, it was not enough to secure a win for the Pistons.
Looking ahead, Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday night, with the series poised for further drama and intensity.
Anticipating Game 5
The upcoming Game 5 presents a pivotal opportunity for both teams. The Pistons will aim to bounce back and leverage their home-court advantage to stay alive in the series. Meanwhile, the Knicks are keen to maintain momentum and advance to the next round.
Fans can expect even more heated exchanges and passionate performances as players on both sides vie for victory. With the stakes higher than ever, this playoff series promises to deliver more thrilling basketball action.
