The playoffs are all about poise under pressure, but after the Knicks’ Game 2 loss, Tom Thibodeau was heated. And this time, the fire wasn’t aimed at his players, but squarely at the officials. The New York Knicks blew a golden opportunity to take control of the series, and Thibs wasn’t about to let the referees off the hook for what he felt was a one-sided whistle.
But let’s back up a little. Tonight’s win for Detroit wasn’t only one step ahead in the playoffs. It was a historic victory. With their 100-94 victory, the Pistons snapped an NBA-record 15-game playoff losing streak that dated all the way back to 2008. Going without a post-season win for close to two decades is nothing to brag about. But they get those rights when the team finally breaks through.
And what better way to make a statement than doing so at Madison Square Garden? Against a veteran Knicks team. ON national television! And let’s just say that the frustration of it all carried itself all the way to the post-game presser with a thoroughly unimpressed Thibs.
Tom Thibodeau didn’t hold back when asked about the game’s most glaring stat: the free-throw discrepancy. The Pistons went 34-of-40 from the line, while the Knicks got just 19 attempts — and didn’t shoot a single one until there were 17.4 seconds left in the first half. “Obviously, huge discrepancy in free throws — huge,” Thibodeau said. “I gotta take a look at that. I don’t understand how on one side, you’re talking about direct line drives, the guy [Brunson] is getting fouled, it’s not called.”
Thibs’ main point? If Cade Cunningham is getting calls on glancing contact, Brunson, who had 37 points and got knocked around all night, deserves the same treatment.
Thibs: “Huge discrepancy in free throws. Huge…Guy’s getting fouled & not being called…I really don’t give a crap how they call game as long as it’s consistent…If Cunningham’s driving & marginal contact & he’s getting to the line, then Jalen deserves to be getting to the line” pic.twitter.com/GWTRkOSwec
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 22, 2025
MSG, for its part, let the refs know how they felt — with a loud “Ref, you suck!” chant that shook the rafters — and when Jalen Brunson finally got his first two free throws, it came with a sarcastic cheer from the Garden crowd. And while the officiating raised eyebrows, it wasn’t the only reason the Knicks lost.
If we’re being honest, Coach Thibodeau’s squad got outplayed for most of the night, and a lot of the damage was self-inflicted.
The Knicks turned the ball over 14 times, shot 10-of-35 from downtown, and once again stumbled out of the gate. If you remove the fourth quarter from both games, the Pistons have outscored New York by 16 points. That’s not on the refs — that’s on execution, effort, and coaching.
Even Brunson, the lone bright spot, was far from perfect with six turnovers. OG Anunoby couldn’t replicate his Game 1 performance, Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t attempt a shot in the final 17:20, and Mikal Bridges went ice cold when it mattered, missing four crucial shots down the stretch.
Cade Cunningham and Dennis Schroder crashed the party
The Pistons came into the postseason with nothing to lose, and now they’ve got everything to gain. Cade Cunningham looked like the best player on the floor, putting up 33 points and 12 boards, while Dennis Schröder torched the Knicks for 20 off the bench, including the go-ahead three with 56.2 seconds left.
Detroit’s bench outscored New York’s 35-8, and they owned the glass all night. MSG was quiet, and the Knicks had no answer. The worst part? Even when the Pistons went scoreless for over five minutes in the fourth quarter, New York couldn’t capitalize. That kind of drought should’ve been a knockout blow — instead, the Knicks couldn’t land a punch.
The free-throw complaints may be valid, but Tom Thibodeau has his own issues to sort out. Critics were quick to point out that while the whistles didn’t help, the bigger problem was strategy — or lack thereof.
Apr 21, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau speaks to his team on the bench during a time out during the fourth quarter of game two of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Why wasn’t KAT involved late? Why didn’t the offense pivot when Brunson started getting doubled? And why are the Knicks starting slow every game? And why does it feel like the team’s biggest weakness is pacing — something you’d expect Thibodeau to manage better than anyone?
If the Knicks want to win this series, it can’t be about officiating. It has to be about adjustments, energy, and smarter play-calling. Period. The good news? It’s still just 1-1. The Knicks didn’t lose the series — just home court. And Josh Hart summed it up perfectly: “When you’re winning, everything’s easy. After a loss, you see the true character of a team.”
That character gets tested in Game 3 on Thursday in Detroit. MSG magic won’t save them now. If the Knicks want to prove they’re contenders, they’ve got to bring it for four quarters, not just one. And Tom Thibodeau has to lead the way, with less complaining and more coaching. Because if this series slips away, the refs won’t be the ones getting the blame. It’ll be Thibs, loud and clear.
The post Tom Thibodeau Demands Justice for Jalen Brunson After NBA Refs’ Controversial Calls in Knicks vs Pistons appeared first on EssentiallySports.