DETROIT. The Detroit Pistons continue their playoff surprise run, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-97 to take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Cade Cunningham led Michigan's squad again with 25 points and 10 assists, while Tobias Harris added 21 points in another solid collective performance from Detroit.
The victory confirms the strong competitive form of a Pistons team that has now accumulated five consecutive wins since the Orlando Magic put them on the ropes in the first round. The No. 1 seed in the East strikes again against a Cleveland Cavaliers team still searching for defensive answers and offensive consistency in the series.
Detroit imposed its aggression from the opening tip. The team led by J.B. Bickerstaff came out with much more physical intensity and quickly took control of the game. The Pistons led by as much as 11 points in the first quarter and extended their advantage to 14 during the second period.
Cade Cunningham controlled the offensive pace with great authority from the start, finding advantages in isolation and generating open looks for his teammates. Duncan Robinson punished from beyond the arc again and finished with 17 points after converting five three-pointers on nine attempts.
Cleveland Cavaliers suffered especially early in the game. Donovan Mitchell kept the visiting team afloat offensively and finished with 31 points, while Jarrett Allen bounced back from his poor first game performance and contributed 22 points and seven rebounds.
However, the rest of the team never managed to provide consistent support. James Harden had a very difficult night, limited to just 10 points after missing 10 of his 13 shots and also turning the ball over four times. Max Strus also disappeared offensively and finished with just three points after his 19 in the series opener.
Still, Cleveland managed to respond in the third quarter and equalized thanks to improved defense and Mitchell's push. Early in the final period, a dunk by Evan Mobley put the Cavaliers ahead 81-79, marking the first visiting lead since the game's opening moments.
https://youtu.be/udXWaco60FM?si=dvwnV8mOyiMpsR9a
But Detroit answered immediately. The Pistons raised their physical level on both ends of the floor and found important solutions from the perimeter. Duncan Robinson hit a crucial three-pointer with 9:40 remaining to break the tie and return control to the home team.
From there, Cade Cunningham took complete control of the outcome. The point guard hit another key three-pointer with 2:12 left to put Detroit up nine and essentially seal the game. Additionally, the bench proved crucial for the Pistons again, especially Daniss Jenkins, who contributed 14 points and has now reached double figures in three consecutive games.
Cleveland Cavaliers also found no answers from beyond the arc in the final quarter. Kenny Atkinson's team shot a disastrous 0 for 11 from three-point range in the fourth period, one of the key factors that ultimately tilted the game decisively toward Detroit.
The Pistons continue to establish themselves as one of the great stories of these NBA playoffs. After eliminating Orlando by overcoming a 3-1 deficit, Michigan's team is now just two wins away from reaching the Conference Finals.
The series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3, where the Cavaliers will attempt to respond in front of their home crowd. In the first round, Ohio's squad posted a solid 4-0 record at home against the Toronto Raptors, but now will need to significantly elevate their level to stop the momentum of a surging Detroit Pistons team.