It’s been a frustrating season for Monty Williams and the 9-49 Pistons, and loss No. 49 is likely to rank among the toughest to swallow.
Just one game after getting beat on a last-second shot by Paolo Banchero — who may or may not have traveled — the Pistons once again fell in heartbreaking, controversial fashion, losing 113-111 to the Knicks.
This time, it wasn’t a spectacular play by the other team that vanquished Detroit — at least, not if you ask Williams. The Pistons coach instead blamed the officials in a fiery post-game rant that’s sure to result in a fine.
We break down what Williams said and why he was so upset.
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Monty Williams rant after wild Pistons-Knicks ending
With the Pistons up by a point with around 30 seconds to go, things got wild:
KNICKS UNREAL ENDING TO WIN IT 😱
WHAT A GAME. pic.twitter.com/U8jQKXt8sf
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 27, 2024
After a missed Jalen Brunson three-point attempt and a wild scramble for the rebound, Ausar Thompson deflected a pass and began to take the ball down the left sideline. He was stopped when Donte DiVincenzo dove at his feet and collided with him. Brunson picked up the loose ball and found Josh Hart wide open for an easy basket, giving the Knicks a lead they wouldn’t relinquish with 2.1 seconds remaining.
After the game, Williams did not mince words.
“Where’s the New York media now?” Williams said after the loss. “The absolute worst call of the season — no call — and enough’s enough. We’ve done it the right way. We’ve called the league, we’ve sent in clips, we’re sick of hearing the same stuff over and over again. We had a chance to win the game, and the guy dove into Ausar’s legs and there was a no-call. That’s an abomination. You cannot miss that in an NBA game.”
Had the foul been called, the Pistons, who were leading 111-110, would have retained possession with 4.2 seconds remaining in the game.
“I’m tired of talking about it. I’m tired of our guys asking me, ‘What more can we do, coach?'” Williams said. “That situation is exhibit A to what we’ve been dealing with all season long. And enough is enough. You cannot dive into a guy’s legs in a big-time game like that and there be a no-call. It’s ridiculous and we’re tired of it.”
Monty Williams calls out the officiating after a close 113-111 loss to the Knicks. #DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/aMqT83jsL9
— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) February 27, 2024
Williams certainly had a right to be frustrated, as even the officials admitted after the game a foul should have been called.
“Upon postgame review, we determined that Thompson gets to the ball first, and then was deprived of the opportunity to gain possession of the ball,” crew chief James Williams said in a pool report after the game. “Therefore, a loose ball foul should have been whistled on New York’s Donte DiVincenzo.”
That wasn’t the only moment of frustration between Williams, the Pistons, and the officials. Earlier in the third quarter, Cade Cunningham was assessed a technical for arguing a call, causing Cunningham to complain to Williams.
It really looked like Cade was just venting to Monty Williams. I don’t think it was contentious.
pic.twitter.com/WPtuRApZXt
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) February 27, 2024
Cunningham, asked later about the game’s ending, simply said, “It didn’t go our way.” He said the word of the day for the Pistons is “livid.”
“It’s how the year’s gone for us,” Cunningham said. “I could say it all, but got an opportunity tomorrow.”
Williams did not wind up fielding any questions from the press. He ended his opening statement by again calling on a fair game before leaving the podium.
“We just want a fair game called,” Williams said. “Period. And I got nothing else to say. We want a fair game and that was not fair.”
