NBA: Cavs rally late to force OT, upend Pistons for 3-2 lead

James Harden scored 30 points and Donovan Mitchell added 21, including seven in overtime, as the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to defeat the Detroit Pistons, 117-113, on Wednesday to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Max Strus finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Evan Mobley contributed 19 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists for the Cavaliers, who had lost all five of their previous road playoff games this postseason. Harden also added eight rebounds and six assists, and Jarrett Allen posted 16 points and 10 rebounds.

“You hope it propels us. You hope it galvanizes us. You hope we carry it forward,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “That was a battle-tested win against a heck of a team on the road. You build mental toughness with games like this.”

For Detroit, Cade Cunningham led the way with 39 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Daniss Jenkins scored 19 points. The Pistons now face elimination for the fourth time this postseason.

“It’s a tough loss,” Cunningham said. “Obviously wanted to protect our own court. We failed to do that. Being up 3-2 is an advantage for them. First to four wins, though.”

Game 6 of the best-of-seven series will be played Friday night in Cleveland. A Cavaliers win would send Cleveland to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks, while a Pistons victory would force a Game 7 in Detroit on Sunday.

Harden credited his teammates for stepping up when needed. “(Donovan) struggled a little bit offensively, but that’s why he has a team,” Harden said. “Max came through and made big shots. Dennis (Schröder) played extremely well. It was a team effort.”

Cleveland seized control early in overtime, scoring nine of the first 11 points to build a 112-105 lead. Cunningham’s jumper cut the deficit to 113-111 with 25.9 seconds remaining, but the Cavaliers closed it out at the free-throw line, with Harden and Mobley combining to hit four of six late foul shots.

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the team will adjust after Cleveland’s late defensive pressure. “They started doubling and getting the ball out of Cade’s hands. We’ll find ways to fix it,” he said.

Detroit had surged late in regulation, using a 15-2 run to take a 100-91 lead with under four minutes remaining. Cleveland missed its first nine shots of the fourth quarter before rallying to tie the game at 103 on Mobley’s free throws with 45.2 seconds left. However, Cleveland failed to get off a final shot in regulation.

The Pistons controlled stretches of the first half, building a 47-32 lead in the second quarter behind an 18-5 run. They forced 10 turnovers that led to 20 points and carried a 60-52 halftime advantage.

Cleveland shifted momentum in the third quarter, tightening its defense and limiting mistakes. The Cavaliers erased the deficit and closed the period on an 11-3 run to take an 84-80 lead into the fourth.

Strus said the road win could serve as a turning point. “We hadn’t done it on the road in the playoffs yet, so this is something we can build on moving forward,” he said.

The Pistons were without starting guard Duncan Robinson, who missed the game due to lower back soreness. -Field Level Media/Reuters