Pistons' J.B. Bickerstaff blasts refs for 'disgusting display of disrespect' after loss to Thunder
The Detroit Pistons are vastly improved over last season's team, which compiled one of the 10 worst seasons in NBA history at 14-68.
However, the Pistons aren't quite good enough to defeat the NBA's best teams consistently, as demonstrated by their 113-107 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night.
Following the game, Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff was fuming. In his view, the Pistons didn't just have to contend with the second-best team in the NBA on Saturday. They also had to battle the officials.
"What you saw tonight was disgusting," Bickerstaff said. "It was a disgusting display of disrespect towards our guys and what we’re trying to do."
[Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem is back: Enter for a shot to win up to $50K]
JB Bickerstaff did not hold back at all….here are his thoughts on the officiating from tonight’s game…watch the whole thing #Pistonspic.twitter.com/kFw75E1oxQ
— Eric Vincent (@IAmEricVincent) March 16, 2025
Bickerstaff's voice shook as he ranted about the officiating, pounding the table before leaving his postgame press conference.
"I tried to have a conversation with an official, the official is arguing with [Thunder coach] Mark [Daigneault], I say his name one time and he screams at me and tells me that’s enough," Bickerstaff said.
"We understand that we play a style of ball that’s physical, it’s on the edge. I coach my ass off in a passionate way, I’m into the game, our players are into the game. We understand that. But we deserve a level of respect because we’re competing our tails off and bringing something positive to this league."
Beginning at the seven-minute mark of the third quarter, Detroit was whistled for five technical fouls. Ausar Thompson and Bickerstaff first picked up technicals. Then with 47 seconds remaining in the frame, Cade Cunningham was called for two technicals for arguing with the officials and was ejected from the game. (Dennis Schröder also picked up a tech, sandwiched between Cunningham's.)
Pistons fans chanting "Ref you suck", after Cade Cunningham gets ejected
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) March 16, 2025
Thanks to the Redditor u/sewsgup for the video:https://t.co/AwzUBysVlcpic.twitter.com/3zIJemtCE7
After the flurry of technicals and Cunningham's ejection, the Thunder expanded their lead to 91-75 by the end of the third. Despite their All-Star's absence, the Pistons twice cut the margin to one point on 3-pointers by Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.
But with under three minutes remaining, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made two consecutive baskets to restore the Thunder's lead to 106-100. Cason Wallace then effectively put the win away, hitting a 3 with 1:33 remaining.
Thunder using Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a screener to counter the Pistons switching. Way to get him a matchup. Defense is there but Shai goes to work. pic.twitter.com/LcNNWrpcNS
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) March 16, 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 48 points, his 12th game reaching 40 or more this season and nearly his fifth 50-point performance. He shot 4-of-6 on 3-pointers and 10-for-10 on free throws to lead the Thunder to their 55th win of the 2024-25 campaign and boost his case for NBA MVP.
Cunningham scored 11 points with seven rebounds and nine assists before leaving the game. Tobias Harris led Detroit with 18 points and seven boards, followed by 17 from Dennis Schröder.
Asked by the pool reporter about ejecting Cunningham, crew chief Brian Forte said the technicals resulted from how he spoke to officials.
"Cunningham was given his first technical foul for disrespectfully addressing an official with profanity," Forte said, via the AP. "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."
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said in his postgame remarks that the "crew was the loosest whistle coming into the game that we've seen all season in terms of how little they call."
Despite the loss, the Pistons hold the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference standings at 37-31 and could move up to fifth or even fourth place.
-
Bickerstaff 'disgusted' by techs in Pistons' loss
Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff blasted the officials after the Pistons were called for five technical fouls in the third quarter of a 113-107 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday, telling ...ESPN - 2h -
Bickerstaff blasts officials after Pistons receive 5 technical fouls in loss to Thunder
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 ...Yahoo Sports - 15h -
Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff rips NBA refs: 'Disrespect has gone on far enough'
Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff ripped the refs after Saturday's game saw Cade Cunningham ejected for lining up in the key.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 48 points and Thunder hold off Pistons 113-107
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 48 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Detroit Pistons 113-107ABC News - 17h -
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder past Nuggets, fellow MVP candidate Nikola Jokić with 40-point game
Nikola Jokić came up one assist short of a triple-double in the Nuggets loss.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 9 -
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Kevin Durant for quickest to 10K points on Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Kevin Durant for quickest to 10K points on Oklahoma City Thunder.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trolls Celtics with Converse logo after Thunder's win
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trolls Boston Celtics with Converse logo after the Oklahoma City Thunder's win.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Pistons' J.B. Bickerstaff: 'I'm disgusted by the way that game was officiated' after Cunningham ejected
“The disrespect has gone far enough, and I’m not going to allow our guys to be treated the way they were tonight.”Yahoo Sports - 43m -
JB Bickerstaff rants about referees after Thunder's 113-107 win over Pistons
JB Bickerstaff rants about referees after the Oklahoma City Thunder's 113-107 win over the Detroit Pistons.Yahoo Sports - 3h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
2025 March Madness printable bracket for men's, women's NCAA Tournament
March is upon us, which means it's time to fill out our brackets. Here are printable brackets for the men's and women's NCAA Tournaments.Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Revealed: Arsenal & Liverpool want €50m winger, he’s open to transfer this summer
Arsenal and Liverpool are among the clubs keen on the potential transfer of Lyon wonderkid winger Malick Fofana this summer.Sources with a close understanding of the situation have informed ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Duke coach says Cooper Flagg playing in ACC tourney is 'not worth it'
Flagg's sprained ankle looms large for the Blue Devils with March Madness right around the corner. But Jon Scheyer appears to be taking the right approach.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
New York Giants' Paulson Adebo embracing opportunity to be CB1
Paulson Adebo knows the New York Giants brought him in to be their top cornerback and he's fully prepared to embrace that role.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
College hoops live updates: UNC in close one, Arkansas out of SEC tourney
An eventful Thursday started with an ankle injury to Duke star Cooper Kupp. Now, the Tar Heels taking on Wake Forest leads live action. Follow along here.Yahoo Sports - 3d
More in Sports
-
Men's Bracketology: Indiana, Xavier, Boise State must play the waiting game
With two final spots available, the fates of Indiana, Xavier and Boise State rest in the hands of the American and A-10 title games. Watch the men's bracket reveal starting at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.ESPN - 13m -
2025 March Madness: Conference tournament scores, automatic bids, tickets punched to Big Dance, brackets
With Selection Sunday here, check out the the teams who have earned AQ bids to the NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 16m -
The wait is over: Newcastle beat Liverpool to end 70-year domestic trophy drought
Newcastle United have won the Carabao Cup, their first major trophy in over half a century, beating Liverpool at the end of a woeful week for the Reds.ESPN - 19m -
'That makes our one and two even better': Can the Kyle Kuzma trade maximize Giannis, Dame and the Bucks?
Milwaukee parted ways with a franchise cornerstone to acquire Kyle Kuzma, a below-the-radar trade that the Bucks believe can rekindle vibes of their 2021 title run.ESPN - 20m -
Hanshin Tigers sweep Cubs, Dodgers in shutouts
The Hanshin Tigers capped a two-game sweep over MLB clubs with a 3-0 win over the Dodgers, following a matching victory over the Cubs the day before.ESPN - 22m