Detroit coach Monty Williams criticized NBA referees for what he called the “worst call of the season” after the Pistons narrowly lost 113-111 to the New York Knicks.
In the final moments of the game, officials missed a clear foul by the Knicks’ Donte DiVincenzo on Pistons forward Ausar Thompson as they battled for a loose ball. This led to the Knicks gaining possession and ultimately securing the win with a layup and free throw.
Referee James Williams later acknowledged the error, stating that a foul should have been called on DiVincenzo. However, Williams’ admission did little to calm Coach Williams, who expressed frustration at the officiating mistake.
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
Coach Williams was particularly upset as he believed the missed call cost his team the game. He emphasized that such errors should not occur in professional basketball.
The Pistons, who have the worst record in the Eastern Conference, have previously raised concerns about officiating with the NBA, but Coach Williams felt that this particular call was the worst of the season.
In other NBA action, the Toronto Raptors defeated the Indiana Pacers, with R.J. Barrett leading the scoring for Toronto and Gradey Dick delivering an impressive performance off the bench. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets secured a dominant road victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, with Dennis Schroder leading the scoring for Brooklyn.
