Cavaliers take 3-2 lead in Detroit

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime on May 13 at Little Caesars Arena, taking a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Cleveland erased a nine-point deficit late in regulation and won its first road game of the postseason, according to the Associated Press and Basketball-Reference. The result also broke a run in which the home team had won each of the first four games in the series. Cleveland can close out the matchup in Game 6 on Friday in Ohio. James Harden led Cleveland with 30 points, his best scoring output of this postseason, and Donovan Mitchell added 21. Cade Cunningham scored 39 points and handed out nine assists for Detroit in 48 minutes, but the Pistons managed 10 points in overtime after leading 106-97 with less than three minutes left in regulation. Max Strus added 20 points for Cleveland and made 6 of 8 shots from 3-point range. ### How did Cleveland flip a game it was close to losing? Detroit led by nine late in the fourth quarter before Cleveland forced overtime with a closing push, according to the Associated Press. The Cavaliers trailed 106-97 and still found enough offense to extend the game, then outscored the Pistons 14-10 in the extra period. James Harden got to the foul line 14 times and made 11 free throws, according to Basketball-Reference. Cleveland also made 31 of 38 free throws as a team, compared with Detroit's 13 of 15, a gap that helped offset the Pistons' stronger shooting night from Cunningham. ### Which players set the tone for Cleveland? Harden's 30 points came with eight rebounds and six assists in 43 minutes, according to Basketball-Reference. His scoring total was Cleveland's high mark, and his free-throw volume gave the Cavaliers a steady source of points as the game tightened. Max Strus delivered 20 points off 6-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc, while Evan Mobley had 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Jarrett Allen added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell shot 7 for 18 from the field but still finished with 21 points and six made free throws. ### What did Detroit get from Cade Cunningham and the rest of its lineup? Cunningham finished with 39 points on 13-for-27 shooting and made 6 of 10 attempts from 3-point range, according to Basketball-Reference. He also had seven rebounds and nine assists, carrying much of Detroit's offense in a game the Pistons led after the first quarter and at halftime. Daniss Jenkins scored 19 points for Detroit, Tobias Harris had 13, and Isaiah Stewart added eight points in 11 minutes off the bench. Detroit shot 50% from the field as a team, compared with Cleveland's 45%, but the Pistons were hurt by Cleveland's edge at the line and by the late collapse after building the fourth-quarter cushion. ### What changed in the series with this result? The 3-2 series edge puts Cleveland one win from advancing to the Eastern Conference finals. NBA.com listed the Cavaliers as holding the series lead after Game 5, and AP described the victory as Cleveland's first road win of the playoffs. The first four games had all been won by the home team, making Game 5 the first break in that pattern. Cleveland lost the first two games in Detroit, then won Games 3 and 4 at home before returning to Michigan for the overtime win. ### When and where is Game 6? Game 6 is scheduled for Friday, May 15, at 7:00 p.m. ET at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, according to the NBA schedule. NBA.com lists the matchup as Pistons at Cavaliers, with Cleveland holding the 3-2 series lead after the Game 5 result. (basketball-reference.com)