Cavaliers beat Pistons, lead series 3-2

The Cleveland Cavaliers left Detroit with their first road win of the postseason on May 13, beating the Pistons 117-113 in overtime in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The victory gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series after the Cavaliers had dropped the first two games and then won three straight. James Harden scored 30 points for Cleveland, and Donovan Mitchell added 21, including seven in overtime. Cade Cunningham finished with 39 points and nine assists for Detroit in a loss that ended the Pistons’ five-game home playoff winning streak. ### How did Cleveland get control after trailing most of the night? Detroit led by 15 points in the first half and still held a 103-94 advantage with a little more than two minutes left in regulation before Cleveland closed the gap. The Cavaliers had been behind since the second quarter before tying the game late and forcing overtime at 103-103. (foxsports.com) The third quarter shifted the game. Cleveland outscored Detroit 32-20 in the period, with Harden scoring nine points and Evan Mobley hitting a late 3-pointer that gave the Cavaliers their largest lead to that point, according to Yahoo Sports’ game account. (fox8.com) ### Which players put up the biggest numbers? Harden’s 30 points were a playoff high for him in this postseason, and he added eight rebounds and six assists, according to the Fox Sports box score. Mobley finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three blocks. Mitchell scored 21 points despite going 1-for-8 from 3-point range, then delivered seven points in the extra period. (sports.yahoo.com) Cunningham carried Detroit’s offense with 39 points on 6-of-10 shooting from 3-point range and added nine assists. Ausar Thompson contributed seven rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks, including a late block on Mitchell at the end of regulation. (foxsports.com) ### What happened on the final possession of regulation? A sequence in the final seconds became the main point of dispute after regulation ended tied. Thompson blocked Mitchell from behind, and Yahoo Sports reported that it appeared Thompson may have been fouled while collecting the loose ball before the buzzer, but no foul was called. Detroit was already in the bonus, which would have sent Thompson to the free-throw line if officials had ruled a foul. (foxsports.com) No call was made, and the game went to overtime. Cleveland then opened the extra period strongly enough to finish the comeback and move within one win of the conference finals. (sports.yahoo.com) ### Why was the result significant for Detroit’s home court? Detroit entered Game 5 having won five straight home playoff games, according to a USA Today preview published before tipoff. Cleveland’s overtime win snapped that run and gave the Cavaliers their first road victory of this postseason. (sports.yahoo.com) The result also changed the shape of a series that had followed a home-court pattern through the first four games. Cleveland dropped Games 1 and 2, then won Games 3 and 4 before taking Game 5 in Detroit. ### What comes next in the series? (giantswire.usatoday.com) Cleveland leads the series 3-2 after five games. Sporting News’ series schedule lists Game 6 for May 15 at 7 p.m. ET in Cleveland on Prime Video, with a Game 7, if necessary, set for May 17 in Detroit. (sportingnews.com) The winner of the series will advance to the Eastern Conference finals, according to Sporting News’ playoff schedule page. (sportingnews.com)