The New York Knicks faced the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of their 2024–25 NBA Playoffs first-round series, where the Knicks secured a thrilling 94–93 win. The game was ultimately decided on a controversial final play involving Tim Hardaway Jr. and Josh Hart, sparking debate over a missed foul call. After the game, the officiating crew addressed the controversy.
On the Pistons’ final possession, Cade Cunningham missed a mid-range jumper, but Detroit grabbed the offensive rebound and swung the ball to Hardaway in the corner for a potential game-winning three-pointer. As Hardaway rose for the shot, Hart made contact, but no foul was called. After the final buzzer, a furious reaction followed from the Pistons players toward the officiating crew.
Following a postgame review, crew chief David Guthrie admitted the officials missed the call. “During live play, it was judged that Josh Hart made a legal defensive play,” Guthrie said, via Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. “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.”
The incident fueled ongoing frustration with officiating standards throughout these playoffs, as critical late-game decisions continue to face heavy scrutiny. With the win, the Knicks now lead the series 3–1.
Tim Hardaway Jr. #8 of the Detroit Pistons shoots the ball against Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs
Josh Hart reacts to no-call
After the game, Hart openly acknowledged the contact during Hardaway’s shot attempt but remained noncommittal about whether a foul should have been called.
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“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,” Hart said, according to reporter Fred Katz on X, formerly known as Twitter.
JB Bickerstaff frustrated over final possession
As the final buzzer sounded, Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff stormed onto the court to voice his frustration with the officials. In his postgame press conference, Bickerstaff reflected on the final moments involving Cunningham’s missed shot and Hardaway’s contested three-pointer.
SurveyWas it Hart's foul on Hardaway?
Was it Hart's foul on Hardaway?
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“Cade got his shot. He got to his spot — I trust Cade to take that shot 100 times in a row,” Bickerstaff said, via reporter Omari Sankofa II on X. “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.”
