Donovan Mitchell and a solid Cavs ensemble provide a close match for the Pistons, but falter in the final stretch. Then, «The Beard» takes over.
The Cleveland Cavaliers achieve a much-needed victory against the Detroit Pistons. James Harden manages his energy effectively and crowns a strong performance with a spectacular show in the last minute and a half. Cade Cunningham, despite a triple-double, doesn’t have his best day.
Cleveland Cavaliers (E4) — Detroit Pistons (E1) 116:109 — Series: 1-2
After significant and justified criticism of his performances in the first two games of the series, James Harden took the reins this time, leading the Cavaliers to a crucial win against the Detroit Pistons. This narrows the series lead for the team of World and European Champion Dennis Schröder in the Eastern Conference semifinals to 2-1. Game four will be played in Cleveland again on Tuesday night.
Harden finished the game with ‘only’ 19 points, but spectacularly sank the last three field goals for the Cavs when the game threatened to slip away.
The 36-year-old drained a step-back jumper with 89 seconds left on the clock to make it 108-104. This was followed by a spectacular floater with 59 seconds remaining to go up 110-106, and as a glorious conclusion, a vintage three-pointer with 25.9 seconds left to seal the 113-109 victory.
Cunningham with 8 Turnovers — Schröder Perfect from Downtown
It’s also true that the Cavs benefited from numerous turnovers by the Pistons in crunch time. Superstar Cade Cunningham, of all people, gave the ball away three times in the last two and a half minutes, accumulating a total of 8 turnovers. Cunningham’s miscues marred an otherwise outstanding game with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in the crucial final moments.
As expected, Donovan Mitchell carried the bulk of the scoring for the Cavs before Harden took over. Mitchell scored 35 points, reaching the 2000 playoff point mark. The 29-year-old needed only 73 games to do so, with only eight players in NBA history reaching this milestone faster.
In addition to the two superstars and Detroit’s turnovers, the Cavs benefited from a strong team performance. Jarrett Allen contributed 18 points, Evan Mobley added 13, and Schröder scored 11. The German national team captain shone with three successful three-pointers out of three attempts.
NBA Playoffs 2026: Second Round Standings
| Conference | Matchup | Stand |
|---|---|---|
| Western | Thunder (1) — Lakers (4) | 2-0 |
| Western | Spurs (2) — Timberwolves (6) | 2-1 |
| Eastern | Pistons (1) — Cavaliers (4) | 2-1 |
| Eastern | Knicks (3) — Sixers (7) | 3-0 |
SEO Title: James Harden Dominates as Cavaliers Beat Pistons in NBA Playoffs
SEO Description: James Harden’s clutch performance fuels the Cleveland Cavaliers to a vital 116-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Playoffs, narrowing the series deficit. Donovan Mitchell and Dennis Schröder also contributed to the win.