Detroit Pistons extend their lead in the series after victory over Cleveland Cavaliers. The Detroit Pistons secured their second consecutive playoff win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cade Cunningham played a key role, recording 25 points and 10 assists. Cleveland failed to make a single three-pointer in the decisive quarter.
The Detroit Pistons strengthened their lead in the second round of the playoffs by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 107–97. The game was held in Detroit, where the hosts set a high pace from the very start and managed to maintain their advantage until the final buzzer. The main hero of the night was Cade Cunningham, who posted a double-double with 25 points and 10 assists. Tobias Harris added 21 points, while Duncan Robinson hit five three-pointers and finished the game with 17 points.
Key moments of the match
Detroit started the game with a confident run, quickly taking an 11-point lead in the first quarter and extending the margin to 14 in the second. However, Cleveland managed to cut the gap and even went ahead early in the final quarter after an impressive dunk by Evan Mobley. Despite this, the Pistons regained control: Duncan Robinson nailed a crucial three-pointer with 9:40 left, and Cade Cunningham secured the advantage with a long-range shot two minutes before the end.
Cavaliers' collapse at the end
Donovan Mitchell was the best scorer for the visitors with 31 points, while Jarrett Allen added 22 points and seven rebounds. James Harden had a rough game, making just 3 of 13 shots and committing four turnovers, including a critical mistake with 33 seconds left and a six-point deficit. Max Strus, who scored 19 points in the first game, was limited to just three. In the decisive fourth quarter, Cleveland missed all 11 of their three-point attempts, which was one of the reasons for their loss.
The series and lineup losses
Detroit secured their fifth consecutive win after a tough end to the first round against Orlando. The next game will take place in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers previously handled Toronto with confidence. The visitors were without Sam Merrill, who missed the game due to a hamstring injury sustained in the first match of the series. During the regular season, he averaged 12.8 points and twice scored in double figures in the series against the Raptors.
The Eastern Conference semifinals continue to deliver unexpected outcomes: earlier, the New York Knicks also extended their lead in the series despite missing a key player, a topic analyzed in detail in the article on their tense victory over the 76ers — more details at the link.
