CLEVELAND — As Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff walked out of his pregame media availability on Friday, May 15, before Game 6 at Rocket Arena, he made it known to a room full of reporters he doesn’t agree with the NBA’s “Last Two Minute Report” regarding how Game 5 against the Cavaliers ended on Wednesday, May 13.
After the Cavs won Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Bickerstaff said Cleveland center Jarrett Allen fouled Detroit forward Ausar Thompson while they scrambled for a loose ball with 0.4 seconds left in regulation.
“He fouled Ausar,” Bickerstaff said then. “… He trips him when he’s going for a loose ball.”
No foul was called, the game went into overtime and the Cavs prevailed 117-113 at Little Caesars Arena for their first road win of the 2026 playoffs. According to the NBA, no call was the correct decision.
Here is the official stance the league took by releasing the “Last Two Minute Report” on May 14: “Allen (CLE) and Thompson (DET) legally step to the same spot while pursuing the loose ball [before either player has possession], and both lose their balance from the marginal contact.”
The “Last Two Minute Report” also states the officials were correct with all of their calls and non-calls in the final two minutes of regulation and the final two minutes of OT in Game 5.
A former Cavs head coach, Bickerstaff said paying attention to rulings in the “Last Two Minute Report” is too frustrating for his own good.
“All they’ll do is piss you off, right?” Bickerstaff said.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: J.B. Bickerstaff disagrees with Pistons vs Cavs Last 2 Minute Report
Reporting by Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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