Preview: Cavaliers Look to Even Series Against Pistons
Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series; the Pistons lead 2-1, and the Cavaliers need a win to avoid facing match point.
Main Event
Game 4 of the second-round NBA playoff series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons is in the books — on May 11 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, the hosts got the result they needed, defeating their opponents 112-103 and tying the series at 2-2.
The third quarter proved pivotal. The Pistons went into halftime with a 56-52 lead, but what happened after the break will go down in NBA history. The Cavaliers went on a mind-boggling 24-0 run that started with 12 seconds left in the second quarter and continued through the first six minutes of the third. It was the longest continuous unanswered scoring stretch in NBA playoff history.
Details and Statistics
The main architect of the comeback was Donovan Mitchell. After a dismal first half in which he made just 1 of 8 field goals for a paltry 4 points, the Cavaliers guard emerged from the locker room as a completely different player. Mitchell scored 21 points in the third quarter and 39 in the second half — tying the NBA playoff record set by Eric "Sleepy" Floyd in 1987 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Mitchell had a chance to break the record from the free-throw line with 27.6 seconds left, but he missed the second attempt. His final tally: 43 points.
James Harden recorded his 40th career playoff double-double: 24 points and 11 assists. He also set the tone in the first quarter, scoring 11 points with three three-pointers and giving the Cavaliers an early 16-5 lead.
Evan Mobley was the best big man on the floor: 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks, and 3 steals. The stat line reflects his total dominance on both ends of the court.
For Detroit, Caris LeVert scored 24 points (17 in the first half), Cade Cunningham had 19 on 7-of-16 shooting (his first time in this postseason failing to reach 20 points), and Tobias Harris added 16, snapping an eight-game streak of 20+ points.
Quarter-by-quarter scoring: 21-24, 31-32, 38-21, 22-26. Note the third quarter — a +17 margin decided the outcome.
A critical factor was the Pistons' turnovers — 18 for the game, with 5 from Cunningham and 4 each from Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren. The free-throw disparity was also striking: Cleveland attempted 34 free throws, Detroit just 12.
Context and Significance
Heading into Game 4, Cleveland's situation was nearly hopeless. After two losses in Detroit (111-101 and 107-97), the Cavaliers were in a 0-2 hole. Game 3 was a battle of wills — James Harden delivered a historic finish, scoring 7 points in the final 90 seconds to secure a 116-109 victory.
Cade Cunningham recorded a triple-double in Game 3 (27 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), but his three turnovers in 41 seconds during crunch time doomed the Pistons' chances. After the game, he said: "Little things, just careless turnovers. I wouldn't even say careless — I care. Just bad decisions that could have given us a chance to win."
Now that the series is tied 2-2, the dynamics have shifted dramatically. Cleveland remains undefeated at home this postseason — six wins in six games. However, on the road, the Cavaliers have the exact opposite record: 0-5. That factor will be the central storyline for Game 5.
What's Next / Game 5 Preview
Game 5 of the series will take place on Wednesday, May 14 (Moscow time) at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Tip-off is at 8:00 PM Eastern Time (prime time for U.S. broadcast). The game will be aired on ESPN.
For both teams, this game is pivotal. The winner will be one step away from the Eastern Conference Finals, with a chance to close out the series in Game 6, scheduled for Friday, May 16 in Cleveland. If Detroit can hold home court, a decisive Game 7 will be played on Sunday, May 18, again at the Pistons' arena.
On Detroit's side: home court and a historical pattern — in the first two games of the series at Little Caesars Arena, the Pistons won each by 10 points. On Cleveland's side: the momentum of two straight wins, a red-hot Donovan Mitchell, and the experienced James Harden, capable of closing out games. The question is whether the team can finally win on the road or if the road-game curse will continue.
— Editorial Team
