The Detroit Pistons have every right to feel frustrated about the no-call on Ausar Thompson at the end of Game 5. But as they pack their bags for Cleveland, they know the real culprit isn't the referee—it's themselves.

With the game tied and seconds ticking away in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Thompson made a spectacular defensive play. Mirroring Donovan Mitchell's drive to the rim, he swatted the shot from behind, then secured the rebound. But as he did, Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen bumped and tripped him from behind. The Little Caesars Arena crowd erupted, expecting a whistle. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff was incensed. Even the most neutral observer could see the contact.

"He fouled Ausar," Bickerstaff said after the game. "It's clear. He trips him when he's going for a loose ball. End-of-game situation, that's tough."

But referee Tony Brothers kept his whistle silent. The clock expired. Overtime began. And the Cavaliers walked away with a 117-113 victory, taking a 3-2 series lead back to Ohio. Had the foul been called, Thompson would have gone to the line with a chance to win the game and put Detroit in control of the series.

Here's the hard truth the Pistons have to swallow: they put themselves in that position. They led by nine points with just three minutes left in the fourth quarter. They controlled the game for over 36 minutes—three-quarters of the contest—and led by as many as 15. But in the closing minutes, the offense went cold. Shot after shot clanked off the rim. The Cavaliers seized the opportunity, closing regulation on a 9-0 run.

Players acknowledged it in the postgame interviews. The no-call stings, but the collapse hurts more. "We had it," one player admitted. "We let it slip."

Now the Pistons face elimination on Friday in Cleveland. For a team that's shown so much grit this postseason, this is a gut-check moment. The lesson? Control what you can control. Because in the playoffs, you can't leave the game in the hands of the officials—no matter how much you might want to.