The Knicks used a 94-93 win over the Pistons to take a 3-1 lead in the opening round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, but it was not without controversy.
A non-call on Tim Hardaway Jr.’s potential game-winning shot attempt drew the ire of head coach JB Bickerstaff, forward Tobias Harris and all of the Pistons fans on hand at Little Caesars Arena.
The non-call has the potential to swing the series, as the Knicks are now one win away from advancing and eliminating the Pistons from the postseason. Here is what to know about the sequence that will be a major topic of discussion coming out of Game 4.
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Knicks-Pistons Game 4 ending, explained
Thanks to back-to-back big buckets from Karl-Anthony Towns, New York took a 94-93 lead with 47 seconds remaining in regulation. After each team traded stops, the Pistons got the ball back with 13 seconds remaining and one final chance to win the game and tie the series.
A missed pull-up jumper from Cade Cunningham led to a wild sequence that resulted in Hardaway picking up a loose ball for a corner 3-point attempt. As Hardaway double-clutched to get the shot off, there appeared to be substantial contact on the attempt, but no whistle was blown.
— dubs408 (@dubsvidstouse) April 27, 2025
The play occurred directly in front of the Knicks’ bench, but as soon as the final buzzer sounded, Bickerstaff ran toward game officials to air out his frustrations with the lack of a whistle.Â
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Bickerstaff appears to tell the referees and anyone else willing to listen, “That’s a f—ing foul.”
An alternate angle of the play shows Josh Hart using his chest to wall up toward Hardaway. Hardaway uses a pump fake and leans into Hart on his release, resulting in the awkward release and the contact believed to be a foul.
— dubs408 (@dubsvidstouse) April 27, 2025
Knicks-Pistons Game 4 reactions
Because of the nature of Game 4’s finish, both teams were asked about the call, which will be reviewed in the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report on Monday, April 28.
After the game, Bickerstaff gave a more measured response than he did on the floor, saying “There was contact on Tim Hardaway’s jump shot. I don’t know any way around it. There was contact on his jump shot. He left his feet.”
When asked about the play, Hart said, “Did I make contact with him? Yeah, I made contact with him. Was it legal? I don’t know! We’ll see in the Last Two Minute Report.”
Hardaway was none too happy about the play, saying “You all saw it. It was blatant,” before walking away from the media.
THJ on if he was fouled: “You all saw it. It was blatant.” Took one question and left. pic.twitter.com/bJeWnvsnB4
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) April 27, 2025
After the game, Crew Chief David Guthrie acknowledged that a foul should have been called on the play.
“During live play, it was judged that Josh Hart made a legal defensive play,” Guthrie said. “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.”
