Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff blasted the officials after Detroit was called for five technical fouls in the third quarter of a 113-107 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night.
During one 48-second stretch, Cade Cunningham picked up two technical fouls and was ejected and Dennis Schroder was also hit with a technical. Both players were assessed the fouls for arguing with the officials.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 48 points, shooting 17 of 26 from the floor, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and added six assists and three steals for Oklahoma City, which won for the ninth time in 10 games.
‘I’m disgusted by the way that game was officiated,’ Bickerstaff said. ‘The level of disrespect was above and beyond. They have a guy fall down and trip on his own teammate’s foot, they review us for a hostile act.’
‘They throw an elbow to our chest and neck area, I ask to at least take a look at it [on video]. … No one would take a look at it.’
‘The disrespect has gone far enough, and I’m not going to allow our guys to be treated the way they were tonight.’
Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff shouts to his team during the game against Oklahoma City
Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson reacts after being whistled for a foul on Saturday
Crew chief Brian Forte was asked by the pool reporter after the game about the technical fouls on Cunningham.
‘Cunningham was given his first technical foul for disrespectfully addressing an official with profanity,’ Forte said. ‘After the free throw for the first technical was shot, Cade continued to use profanity toward the official and received his second technical foul and was ejected.’
As for Schroder, Forte said he ‘was given a technical foul for continuous complaining after Detroit was given a team warning in the second period.’
Cason Wallace added 20 points for Thunder, and Isaiah Hartenstein had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Cunningham matched a season low with 11 points on 5-of-18 shooting before being ejected for arguing calls late in the third quarter.
Tobias Harris led the Pistons with 18 points, while reserve Dennis Schroder had 17 points and 11 assists in place of Cunningham.
Detroit trailed 91-75 until Malik Beasley’s buzzer-beating layup at the end of the third quarter. His 3-pointer pulled the Pistons within 98-97 with 4:16 left.
The Thunder next play Sunday in Milwaukee, while Detroit is in New Orleans on Monday.
