The Detroit Pistons saw their four-game winning streak come to an end in dramatic fashion Thursday night, falling 116-114 in overtime to the Dallas Mavericks. It was a game that had everything-clutch moments, high-level play, and, unfortunately, some postgame fireworks centered around the officiating.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff didn’t hold back in his comments after the loss, making it clear that while he wasn’t pinning the defeat solely on the referees, he had serious concerns about how the game was called-specifically pointing to crew chief John Goble.
Bickerstaff didn’t mention Goble by name, but the references were unmistakable. He shared a telling exchange he had during the game, quoting the official as saying, “Night by night, this is how our interactions are.” That line, according to Bickerstaff, raised a red flag.
“To me, that says the referee is coming into the game not being objective,” Bickerstaff said. “That same referee gave me a technical foul at halftime-I didn’t say anything to him. I was trying to get Cade [Cunningham] off the floor, doing my job, and I get T’d up for that.”
The frustration didn’t stop there. Bickerstaff also took issue with the ejection of rookie wing Ausar Thompson, pointing to the moment of contact between Thompson and Goble.
“If you look at the play, he steps toward A.T.-that’s where the minimal contact happens,” Bickerstaff said. “He initiates it.”
Goble, speaking to a pool reporter after the game, said the technical on Bickerstaff was for “continuous complaining,” and that Thompson was ejected for “aggressively approaching and making contact with an official.”
Bickerstaff’s final frustration came on the Pistons’ last offensive possession in regulation. According to him, he was trying to call a timeout-standing right next to Goble-but didn’t get the whistle.
“You had one guy who wanted to make the game about the referees when that’s not what this should have been,” he said. “This was two teams competing their tails off, playing high-level basketball.”
And he’s right about that last part-this was a game that showcased two young, hungry teams going toe-to-toe. The Pistons, despite the loss, continue to show signs of growth, with Cade Cunningham leading the charge.
As the trade deadline looms, Detroit has some clear areas to address if they want to keep building momentum. According to reporting from The Detroit Free Press, the front office is eyeing upgrades in three key areas: three-point shooting, power forward depth, and finding a consistent second scorer to take pressure off Cunningham. A few names that have surfaced as potential trade targets include Lauri Markkanen, Sam Hauser, and Dorian Finney-Smith-players who could fit well within Detroit’s system and timeline.
But make no mistake-this team is Cade Cunningham’s. Still just 24, Cunningham has blossomed into the Pistons’ unquestioned leader, both on and off the court. His leadership journey started early, dating back to his high school days when he was the youngest player on his varsity team and had to earn every ounce of respect.
“Me and those guys have come to terms, and we’re all good now,” Cunningham recalled. “But it made me grow.
I learned how to lead from that-how to make people feel the way I wanted to feel back then. That was the first time I realized I didn’t like the leadership I saw, and I wanted to be better when my time came.”
That time is now. Cunningham is putting up career-best numbers across the board-27.2 points, 9.2 assists, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game-and he’s doing it with poise, control, and a deep understanding of how to elevate those around him.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd had high praise for Cunningham before Thursday’s game, saying the Pistons guard deserves to be firmly in the MVP conversation. “When you look at the pace, his speed, and his ability to control the game-not just scoring, but passing-he understands when it’s time to go,” Kidd said. “He should be mentioned with the MVPs, if not MVP right now, because of the high level he’s playing.”
It’s clear Cunningham has taken that next step. The Pistons are still in the building phase, but with their franchise cornerstone playing like this, and with the right moves ahead of the deadline, Detroit could be closer than people think.
Thursday night’s loss may sting, but the bigger picture? It’s starting to come into focus.