Mitchell scores 43 as Cavs take 3-2

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime on Wednesday, May 13, to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. James Harden scored a playoff-best 30 points, Donovan Mitchell added 21, and Cleveland erased a nine-point deficit in the final minutes of regulation, according to NBA.com. Evan Mobley’s free throws with 45.2 seconds left tied the game at 103-103, and the Cavaliers then carried a 13-0 run from late in the fourth quarter into overtime. Detroit, the top seed in the East, now faces elimination in Game 6. ### How did Cleveland flip the game late? Detroit led 103-94 with a little more than two minutes remaining in regulation, NBA.com said. Cleveland answered with a closing push that tied the game before overtime and then extended into a decisive stretch in the extra period. The Cavaliers held the Pistons scoreless for five minutes from late in the fourth quarter to midway through overtime, according to the NBA game recap. Mitchell hit a 3-pointer with 2:39 left in overtime to push Cleveland ahead by seven. ### Who carried the scoring for Cleveland? James Harden finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists, according to NBA.com. Max Strus added 20 points and made six 3-pointers, while Mobley scored 19 and Jarrett Allen had 16 points and nine rebounds. Donovan Mitchell scored 21 points in what NBA.com described as an off night by his standards. Cleveland still got enough offense from multiple players to win its first road game of the series and its first road win of the postseason. ### What did Detroit get from Cade Cunningham? Cade Cunningham scored 39 points and had nine assists for Detroit, according to the NBA recap. He made a jumper with 25 seconds left in overtime to cut Cleveland’s lead to two points. The Pistons had built a 15-point lead in the first half and were in control late in the fourth quarter. Detroit could not score during Cleveland’s decisive run, and Harden helped finish the game by making late free throws after Cunningham’s basket. ### Why was this result significant in the series? Wednesday’s result gave Cleveland its third straight win after Detroit took the first two games of the series. The Cavaliers also ended the Pistons’ four-game home winning streak, according to NBA.com. The series has now swung from a 2-0 Detroit advantage to a 3-2 Cleveland lead. NBA.com listed Cleveland as leading the best-of-seven semifinal 3-2 after Game 5. ### What comes next in the matchup? Game 6 is scheduled for Friday, May 15, at 7 p.m. ET in Cleveland, according to NBA.com. Prime Video is listed as the broadcaster on the league schedule page. Detroit can force a Game 7 with a win on Friday. If Cleveland wins at home, NBA.com said the Cavaliers will advance to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.