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Cavs Win OT, Bickerstaff Slams NBA Report

5/16/2026

Summary

Bickerstaff Denounces Call

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff denounced the NBA’s “Last Two Minute” report before Game 6 on May 15, 2026, after the league upheld a non-call on Cleveland center Jarrett Allen.
He claimed Allen fouled forward Ausar Thompson with 0.4 seconds left, despite NBA ruling contact incidental and sending the tied game to overtime.
Cleveland won 117-113 in overtime to take a 3-2 series lead as Detroit, noting a free-throw gap, faces elimination in Game 6.

Summary

NBA Validates Calls

The NBA’s Last Two Minutes report found all 36 calls in Game 5’s two minutes correct.
The league ruled Donovan Mitchell did not travel before Ausar Thompson’s strip.
Officials were deemed correct for not calling a foul on Thompson’s strip, deeming the play legal.
The Allen-Thompson contact was marginal as both stepped into the same spot and lost balance.
The report upheld an overtime foul on Paul Reed involving James Harden, noting Harden stayed inbounds.

History

Historical Context

In 2002 the NBA introduced a video-review exception for plays in the final seconds, a step that later grew into the league’s broader final-minute review process. The rule was expanded in 2007 to cover flagrant fouls. Today, Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s challenge of Jarrett Allen’s late contact echoes that early push for end-game oversight.

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Bickerstaff Denounces Call

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff denounced the NBA’s “Last Two Minute” report before Game 6 on May 15, 2026, after the league upheld a non-call on Cleveland center Jarrett Allen.
He claimed Allen fouled forward Ausar Thompson with 0.4 seconds left, despite NBA ruling contact incidental and sending the tied game to overtime.
Cleveland won 117-113 in overtime to take a 3-2 series lead as Detroit, noting a free-throw gap, faces elimination in Game 6.

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