Cavaliers win 117-113 in overtime, erasing late Pistons lead

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime on Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena, overcoming a 103-94 deficit in the final three minutes of regulation to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series. James Harden scored 30 points, and Cleveland closed regulation on a 9-0 run before outscoring Detroit 14-10 in overtime, according to NBA.com. Cade Cunningham scored 39 points in the loss for Detroit, which had controlled much of the second half before its offense stalled late. Game 6 is scheduled for Friday in Cleveland. ### How did Cleveland get back into a game Detroit appeared to have in hand? NBA.com said Cleveland trailed 103-94 with three minutes remaining before finishing regulation with nine straight points. Evan Mobley and Harden helped cut the margin, and Mobley’s free throws tied the game at 103 with 45.2 seconds left, according to CBS Detroit’s recap of the game. (nba.com) Detroit News reported the Pistons failed to score on their final possessions of regulation after Tobias Harris pushed the lead to nine. The Cavaliers then carried that momentum into overtime, where Donovan Mitchell hit a 3-pointer that stretched Cleveland’s lead to seven with 2:39 left, according to CBS Detroit. (nba.com) ### Who were the central players in the comeback and the loss? James Harden finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Cleveland, while Max Strus added 20 points and Evan Mobley had 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, NBA.com said. Donovan Mitchell scored 21 points, including key baskets in overtime, as Cleveland secured its first road win of the postseason. (detroitnews.com) Cade Cunningham posted 39 points, seven rebounds and nine assists for Detroit, according to Fox Sports. Daniss Jenkins scored 19 points and Tobias Harris added 13, but NBA.com said no other Piston reached double figures beyond those three as Detroit lost after forcing 16 turnovers. (nba.com) ### What happened in overtime? Cleveland opened overtime with the same pressure that fueled the end of regulation and eventually finished the game on a 23-10 run, NBA.com said. Mitchell’s late 3-pointer and Harden’s free throws in the final seconds helped seal the four-point win. (foxsports.com) Fox Sports said the result gave Cleveland a chance to clinch the series in Game 6. The road win was the Cavaliers’ first of the postseason after earlier losses away from home in the series. ### Why did the finish draw so much attention after the buzzer? (nba.com) Cleveland.com reported Friday that the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report found no missed calls in the decisive late sequence, including the non-whistle that became the focus after Game 5. Sports Illustrated said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff had already criticized the officiating earlier in the series and that Detroit attempted 20 free throws in Game 5 compared with 38 for Cleveland. (foxsports.com) CBS Sports said the disputed play came after Ausar Thompson stripped Mitchell on Cleveland’s final regulation drive, a sequence that left Detroit arguing it should have had a chance to win at the line. The NBA report later said the officiating in that stretch was correct, according to Cleveland.com. (cleveland.com) ### What comes next in the series? Game 6 is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. ET in Cleveland, NBA.com said. Yahoo Sports reported the league released game information for the next matchup as the series shifted back to Ohio with Cleveland holding a 3-2 lead. (nba.com) (cbssports.com)