NBA: After strong finish, Cavaliers set sights on leveling Pistons series

A classic one-on-one battle between star guards James Harden and Cade Cunningham helped decide Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals as the Cleveland Cavaliers earned a 116-109 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.

Harden delivered in the closing stretch, scoring seven points in the final 90 seconds to lift Cleveland past visiting Detroit and secure its first victory of the series.

The fourth-seeded Cavaliers will remain at home for Game 4 on Monday, aiming to even the series against top-seeded Detroit. Cleveland has been dominant at home this postseason, improving to a perfect 5-0.

“We felt like we had more control of the game, instead of always having to fight your way back, always having to make sure that every play is perfect,” Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen said Sunday. “When you’re ahead, you can hit singles, you can slow the ball down, do whatever.”

Cleveland nearly let a 17-point lead slip away on Saturday as Cunningham, Tobias Harris, and reserve center Paul Reed sparked a Detroit rally in the second half. The Pistons briefly took the lead at 101-100 on a Harris three-pointer with 4:57 remaining.

Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 35 points and 10 rebounds, but it was Harden who closed the door on Detroit. The veteran guard finished with 19 points and seven assists, providing a vintage late-game performance.

“It’s tough because we could have gone up 3-0,” Reed said after contributing 11 points in 10 minutes. “Now we’ve got to focus on the prize and what’s next.”

Cunningham recorded his second career playoff triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, but his performance was marred by a late collapse. He committed three of his eight turnovers in a 41-second span during the final minutes.

Detroit was outscored 12-5 in the final 2:28, with Cunningham’s turnover to Max Strus leading directly to a go-ahead basket that put Cleveland ahead for good at 106-104.

“Little things, just careless turnovers. I wouldn’t even say careless. I care a lot,” Cunningham said. “Just bad plays that could have gotten shots on rim and given us an opportunity to win the game.”

The Pistons held practice Sunday on the arena’s upper court while Cleveland worked at its suburban training facility.

Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff pointed to both execution issues and spacing problems as factors in Cunningham’s late mistakes.

“There are some spacing issues that we can resolve that’ll help him out,” Bickerstaff said. “And there are some plays that I know he wishes he could just have back.”

Detroit also needs a stronger showing from All-Star center Jalen Duren, who was again outperformed by Allen, who finished with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Over the past two games, Duren has attempted just 15 shots, making seven.

“He can be a little bit lower in the paint and finish and be more explosive at the end,” Bickerstaff said. “But it’s not just points for Jalen. He just has to do the right thing, and I think he’s done that.”

The Pistons could also be short-handed in the backcourt, with Caris LeVert (right heel contusion) and Kevin Huerter (left adductor strain) both listed as questionable. Huerter has not played since Game 4 of the first-round series against Orlando.

Cleveland, meanwhile, received a boost with the return of sharpshooter Sam Merrill, who came back from a hamstring strain in Game 3 and contributed seven points.

“I was really surprised he played,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I’ve dealt with hamstrings and they usually just take time. I’m not sure we win that game without him.” -Field Level Media/Reuters