In a fiery matchup between the Detroit Pistons and the Oklahoma City Thunder, tensions ran high as a total of five technical fouls were called against the Pistons in the third quarter alone. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff did not mince words, expressing his disgust with the officiating and the perceived disrespect towards his team. The frustration peaked when rookie Cade Cunningham was ejected after receiving two technical fouls for arguing with the officials, while Dennis Schroder also found himself on the receiving end of a technical for his continuous complaining.
Despite the controversy and heated exchanges on the court, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault remained composed and focused on his team's performance. He acknowledged the uniqueness of the officiating crew's approach, describing them as having the "loosest whistle" he had seen all season. While Bickerstaff adamantly voiced his displeasure with the calls made against his team, Daigneault credited his players for staying poised and not letting the officiating distractions affect their game.