Cavaliers rally in OT to beat Pistons 117-113, take 3-2 series lead

The Cleveland Cavaliers went to Detroit on May 13 needing a road win and got one only after digging out from a late hole. Cleveland beat the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, taking a 3-2 series lead after trailing 103-94 with three minutes left in regulation. James Harden led the Cavaliers with 30 points, and the team closed regulation on a 9-0 run before finishing the game on a 23-10 stretch, according to NBA.com. ### How did Cleveland get the game back under control that late? Detroit led by nine points with under three minutes remaining, but Cleveland did not allow another Pistons point in regulation. NBA.com’s live recap said the Cavaliers scored the final nine points of the fourth quarter to force overtime, then held Detroit scoreless for a five-minute stretch spanning the end of regulation and the start of the extra period. (nba.com) Evan Mobley scored Cleveland’s last seven points in the fourth quarter, according to the NBA game preview for Game 6. That late sequence turned a game Detroit appeared to have in hand into a tie going into overtime. ### Who carried Cleveland in the box score? James Harden finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the Game 5 win, according to the official NBA box score. (cdn-uat.nba.com) Max Strus added 20 points and made six 3-pointers for Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell had a quieter night by his standards in regulation but still delivered in overtime. (nba.com) NBA.com said Mitchell scored seven points in the extra session without a miss, helping Cleveland separate after the comeback only got the game even. ### What did the result change in the series? The 117-113 result gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. (nba.com) NBA.com described it as the first road win of the matchup, after the home team had won each of the first four games. The Game 5 win also shifted the immediate pressure to Detroit. The Pistons now need a road victory in Game 6 to extend the series, while Cleveland can end the matchup at home. (nba.com) ### Why does the Game 5 comeback stand out? Cleveland trailed 103-94 with three minutes left and still won by four. NBA.com’s live blog said the Cavaliers outscored Detroit 14-10 in overtime after the 9-0 closing run in regulation, a swing that turned a nine-point deficit into a four-point victory. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) The final margin understates how abrupt the shift was. Detroit went from control late in the fourth quarter to being held scoreless across the end of regulation and the opening stretch of overtime, according to NBA.com’s Game 6 page. ### When is Game 6 and where is the series headed next? Game 6 is scheduled for May 15 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, according to the NBA schedule and the Cavaliers’ team schedule page. (cdn-uat.nba.com) ESPN’s schedule page also lists Detroit at Cleveland for Friday, May 15. The NBA schedule lists a Game 7 in the series only if necessary, with Cleveland and Detroit still on the Eastern Conference semifinal bracket. (nba.com) Game 6 will decide whether Cleveland advances or whether the series returns to a winner-take-all game. (nba.com) (nba.com)