The job of a referee in any sport isn’t easy. With multiple players competing at breakneck speed for hours, it can be almost impossible to get every call right. With social media, every missed call gets scrutinized and picked apart.
But the ending of the fourth game in the first-round playoff series between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons might be one of those cases where social media had it right. A critical missed call completely changed the course of the series, leaving fans furious — and understandably so.
Fans Rip Apart Refereeing for Blown Tim Hardaway Jr. Call In Knicks-Pistons
Tim Hardaway Jr. has had a long career in the NBA since entering the league in 2013. This year was his first with the Pistons, and he became an immediate spark-plug in the starting lineup, fueling their resurgent return to the NBA postseason.
Averaging 11 points on nearly 37% shooting from distance, his role with the team was crystal clear. And in the waning seconds of Game Four, he found himself in an ideal spot, wide open in the left corner, with a chance to turn a 94-93 loss into a win.
He missed his ninth three-pointer of the night (4-13), but the controversy came from Josh Hart, who made clear contact with Hardaway on the attempt. Unfortunately, no foul was called, and what could have been a 2-2 tied series going back to New York is now a commanding 3-1 lead for the Knicks.
As a result, the entire NBA world descended on the league and its referees, with this series already under the microscope for Jalen Brunson and his perceived foul-baiting. One fan immediately pointed to that discrepancy, calling to attention the double standards both teams were facing.
“The @NBA is clearly rigged. If you breathe on Jalen Brunson, it’s a foul, but you can literally jump into a Pistons player while he is shooting and there is no foul? Obviously, clear contact. Clearly, the NBA wants NY to advance.”
The @NBA is clearly rigged. If you breathe on Jalen Brunson it’s a foul, but you can literally jump into a Pistons player while he is shooting and there is no foul? Obviously clear contact. Clearly the NBA wants NY to advance.
— Michael Ryan 😷 (@jeepdogguy517) April 27, 2025
Others took it even further, comparing the infamous no-call on a LeBron James layup against the Boston Celtics. “This is the bullshit part about it- the ref was also standing right there- this could change the outcome of the game but the ref had money on the knicks! Rigged as hell.”
This is the bullshit part about it- the ref was also standing right there- this could change the outcome of the game but the ref had money on the knicks! Rigged as hell
— Sk (@NK66586656) April 27, 2025
However, the one clear theme for nearly everyone watching was the same – the Detroit Pistons were the victims. Comments like, “This is a CLEAR FOUL with all due respect. PISTONS WERE ROBBED,” weren’t an anomaly.
This is a CLEAR FOUL with all due respect.
PISTONS WERE ROBBED pic.twitter.com/TBv9gK2OES
— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) April 27, 2025
After Game 3 also went down to the wire, fans felt this added salt to the wound. “Nah, this series is rigged af. The refs screwed over the Pistons two games in a row WTF”
Nah this series is rigged af. The refs screwed over the Pistons two games in a row WTF
— AB (@WayToo6ixy) April 27, 2025
While some fans pointed out missed calls favoring specific players, others called out the bigger problem: market size.”Pistons were robbed. NBA never beating the rigged for big market allegations.”
Pistons were robbed.
NBA never beating the Rigged for big market allegations
— Kyle Acosta ✝️🐎🐊 (@Weightgainclyde) April 27, 2025
It got even worse for the league when Hart confirmed he made contact with Hardaway, and the crew later admitted in the pool report that a shooting foul should have been called.
It’s unlikely the outcome will change, especially given how critical the playoff game was. But stranger things have happened in the NBA. So, who knows?
