Cleveland Cavaliers take 3-2 lead

The Cleveland Cavaliers moved within one win of the Eastern Conference finals after beating the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime in Game 5 on May 13, according to NBA.com and CBS Sports. The victory gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series after the teams split the first four games. CBS Sports’ playoff bracket page said Cleveland’s next chance to clinch the series comes in Game 6 on Friday, May 15. ### When did Cleveland take the 3-2 lead, and where did it happen? May 13 was the date of Game 5, and the matchup was played in Detroit, not Cleveland, according to NBA.com’s live recap and CBS Sports’ game tracker. That matters because Cleveland’s win was its first road victory of the 2026 playoffs, CBS Sports reported on its playoff bracket page. (nba.com) The series had been tied after four games before Cleveland’s overtime win pushed the Cavaliers in front. NBA.com’s playoff page for the matchup listed Cleveland ahead 3-2 after Game 5. ### Who led Cleveland in Game 5? James Harden scored 30 points for the Cavaliers in the 117-113 overtime win, according to CBS Sports’ recap and NBA.com’s Game 5 coverage. (nba.com) NBA.com said Harden’s performance helped Cleveland secure what it called a crucial road victory. Donovan Mitchell had 35 points in Cleveland’s Game 3 win earlier in the series, ESPN’s schedule page shows, underscoring that Cleveland has leaned on multiple high-scoring outings from its top players across the semifinal matchup. (nba.com) That page also shows Detroit won Games 1 and 2 before Cleveland answered. ### What is at stake in Game 6? CBS Sports said Cleveland is one win away from a spot in the Eastern Conference finals. (cbssports.com) Its playoff bracket page listed the Knicks as the next opponent if the Cavaliers finish the series. Sporting News, in its series schedule, also said the winner of the Pistons-Cavaliers matchup will advance to face the winner of New York’s series. (espn.com) That outlet’s guide listed the series as part of the Eastern Conference semifinal round. ### When is the next game, and where will it be played? (cbssports.com) Friday, May 15, is the scheduled date for Game 6, and the game is set for Rocket Arena in Cleveland, according to ESPN’s NBA schedule and multiple game-preview listings published on May 14. Yahoo Sports and USA Today network previews also described Game 6 as Cleveland’s next opportunity to close out the series. Detroit will enter that game trying to force a Game 7 after dropping the overtime decision in Game 5. (sportingnews.com) Cleveland, by contrast, can end the series at home with one more win. ### Was there any late controversy in Game 5? MLive reported that the NBA issued an assessment on a late sequence involving Detroit’s Ausar Thompson near the end of regulation. (espn.com) The report said Thompson appeared to be tripped without a foul call before Cleveland went on to win in overtime. That sequence became part of the immediate aftermath because the game was still tied late in regulation before Cleveland pulled ahead in overtime. (nba.com) NBA.com and CBS Sports both recorded the final as a four-point Cavaliers win after the extra period. May 15 is now the next date on the series calendar, with Detroit visiting Cleveland for Game 6 at Rocket Arena. (mlive.com) ESPN’s schedule page lists the matchup for Friday, and CBS Sports’ playoff hub identifies it as Cleveland’s next chance to clinch the series. (espn.com) (nba.com)