Pistons down Cavs 107-97; Harden struggles

The story here is pretty simple. Detroit didn’t just steal another playoff game — the Pistons looked steadier, sharper, and more in control than Cleveland again. Their 107-97 win on May 7 put them up 2-0 in the East semifinals, and it happened the same way Game 1 did: Detroit defended harder, executed better late, and got the best star performance when the game tightened. (nba.com) ### Why did this game swing Detroit’s way? Detroit owned the opening stretch and never really let Cleveland settle in. The Pistons led 25-18 after one quarter and 54-43 at halftime, which meant the Cavs spent most of the night trying to climb back instead of dictating terms. Cleveland did make a push in the third, but Detroit answered in the fourth and won that quarter 28-22. (espn.com) ### What did Cade Cunningham actually do? He looked like the calmest player on the floor. Cunningham finished with 25 points and 10 assists, and the most important part was when those points came — 12 in the fourth quarter. That’s the difference between a guy who has numbers and a guy who controls a playoff game. Detroit kept putting the ball in his hands, and he kept making the right read. (nba.com) ### Who else gave Detroit enough support? Tobias Harris was huge with 21 points, and Jalen Duren gave Detroit muscle on the glass with 10 rebounds. That balance matters because it keeps Cunningham from having to force everything. Detroit’s offense didn’t feel frantic. It felt layered — a drive here, a kickout there, a big possession when Cleveland started to sniff a comeback. (espn.com) ### So what happened to Cleveland? Donovan Mitchell got his points — 31 of them — but the offense around him never looked comfortable enough. That’s the catch with playoff shot creation. One star can keep you alive, but two clean engines usually win you the game. Cleveland needed James Harden to be the second engine, and he wasn’t. (espn.com)ing so much attention? Because the sloppiness is becoming structural, not random. NBA.com’s Game 2 takeaway flat-out singled out Harden’s control issues, and StatMuse shows he had seven turnovers in Game 1. In this game, the broader pattern continued — shaky shot-making, giveaways, and long stretches where Cleveland’s offense lost sha(espn.com)hing starts to feel one pass late. (nba.com) ### Is this already a real problem for the Cavs? Yes — because 0-2 is one thing, but the way they got there is worse. Detroit has looked like the more reliable team in both games. The Pistons are making fewer mistakes, defending with more purpose, and getting cleaner late-game possessions. Kenny Atkinson sounded like a coach still searching for(nba.com 1)(nba.com 2) ### What changes now? The series shifts to Cleveland, so the Cavs do get the next chance to reset the tone. But basically, the burden has flipped. Detroit no longer needs to prove it belongs here. Cleveland has to prove this matchup isn’t tilting away for good. (espn.com) ### Bott(nba.com)er in the series, and Cleveland’s biggest unanswered question is sitting right in the backcourt. If Harden doesn’t clean up the offense fast, this can get away from the Cavs in a hurry.