Pistons Show Grit in Dallas, But Controversial No-Call Seals OT Loss to Mavericks
The Detroit Pistons opened their Western Conference road trip with a battle that had all the grit, hustle, and late-game drama you could ask for-but it ended in heartbreak. Despite clawing back from a double-digit deficit and forcing overtime, the Pistons fell 116-114 to the Dallas Mavericks in a game that ended with more questions than answers, especially after a controversial no-call in the final seconds.
The Final Sequence: A Missed Opportunity-and a Missed Whistle
With less than two seconds left in overtime and the Pistons trailing by two, Detroit had a golden chance to tie or win it. Cade Cunningham’s potential go-ahead jumper rimmed out, but Jalen Duren muscled his way into position and grabbed the offensive rebound in traffic. What happened next was pure chaos.
Duren went back up strong, only to be swarmed by multiple Mavericks defenders-arms flailing, bodies crashing. It looked more like a goal-line stand than a basketball play.
Yet, the whistle never came. No foul.
No free throws. Just stunned faces on the Pistons’ bench as the clock expired and the Mavs escaped with a win.
Duren, who posted a strong 17-point, 13-rebound performance, had every reason to expect a whistle on that final play. Instead, Detroit was left to digest a tough loss-one that dropped them to 21-6 on the season.
Early Ejections and Foul Trouble Shift the Momentum
Things started to unravel for Detroit in the second quarter. After a solid opening stretch, rookie forward Ausar Thompson was hit with a technical foul and ejected shortly after-a surprising sequence that left the Pistons down a key contributor early. Cade Cunningham nearly followed him to the locker room after picking up a tech of his own, but cooler heads prevailed.
Still, the damage was done. The Mavericks seized control of the game, both on the scoreboard and at the free throw line. Dallas built a sizable edge in attempts from the stripe, and by halftime, they held a 66-57 lead.
Bench Brigade Sparks a Comeback
But if there’s one thing this Pistons team has shown all season, it’s resilience. Head coach Monty Williams turned to a high-energy bench unit in the second half-and they delivered.
Daniss Jenkins and Marcus Sasser took over the backcourt, flanked by Ron Holland, Javonte Green, and Paul Reed. That group brought relentless pressure, turning defense into offense and forcing Dallas into a string of turnovers. Isaiah Stewart rotated in to add some muscle, and when Cunningham re-entered to start the fourth, Detroit had found its rhythm.
The Pistons opened the final quarter on a 20-6 run, flipping the script and grabbing a four-point lead with just over five minutes to play. Cunningham was at the heart of it all, finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists-just one dime shy of a triple-double.
Cunningham Clutch, But Overtime Slips Away
Cunningham’s poise in crunch time was on full display. With under 90 seconds left in regulation, he backed down a defender and knocked down a fading mid-range jumper to give Detroit a one-point edge. Moments later, Stewart swatted a Mavericks shot into the stratosphere, leading to a pair of clutch free throws by Jenkins.
But the Mavs wouldn’t go away. The two teams traded buckets down the stretch, and regulation ended with the score tied.
In overtime, the Pistons struggled to find their offensive flow. Cunningham had a clean look to take the lead in the closing seconds, but the shot rimmed out. Then came the scramble, the Duren rebound, the contact-and the silence from the officials.
Stewart chipped in 14 points off the bench, and the Pistons dominated the offensive glass with a 25-11 edge. But in the end, it wasn’t enough to overcome a cold overtime and a missed whistle that will sting for a while.
What’s Next
The Pistons won’t have long to dwell on this one. They return home to host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. With a 21-6 record and a clear identity built on depth, toughness, and defense, Detroit will look to bounce back quickly-and keep proving they’re one of the East’s most dangerous teams, no matter the venue or the officiating.