Donovan Mitchell rally ties Cavaliers‑Pistons series 2‑2

The Cavaliers didn’t just win Game 4. They detonated the middle of it. Cleveland beat Detroit 112-103 on Monday, and the series that looked like it was tilting toward the Pistons is suddenly dead even at 2-2. The reason is simple — Donovan Mitchell went from quiet to unstoppable, and one third-quarter avalanche changed the whole matchup. ### How bad did it look at halftime? Pretty bad for Cleveland. Mitchell had only 4 points in the first half and was 1-for-8 from the field, while Detroit took a 56-52 lead into the break. That mattered because the Pistons had already won the first two games in Detroit, so another loss would have put the Cavs on the edge. (nba.com) ### So what changed? Mitchell came out of the locker room breathing fire. He scored 21 points in the third quarter alone, and Cleveland ripped off a massive opening run that effectively ended the game before Detroit could reset. Depending on the play-by-play framing you use, it was logged as a 23-0 or 24-0 burst — either way, the point is the same: the Pistons stopped scoring, and the Cavs turned the building into chaos. (nbcsports.com) ### How big was Mitchell’s night, really? Huge even by playoff-star standards. Mitchell finished with 43 points, and 39 of them came in the second half. That tied the NBA playoff record for points in a half in the play-by-play era. He basically authored two games in one — a rough first half, then a historic takeover. (nbcsports.com) ### Was it only Mitchell? No — and that’s the part Detroit has to worry about. James Harden kept Cleveland afloat early with 24 points and 11 assists, when the offense could have easily flatlined before halftime. Evan Mobley filled every gap with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 5 blocks — eight “stocks,” which is a ridiculous defensive line in a playoff game. (nbcsports.com) ### Why are people arguing about the whistle? Because the free-throw gap was glaring, and Detroit’s side was furious after the game. The Pistons attempted just 12 free throws, while Mitchell alone went 13-for-15 at the line. J.B. Bickerstaff blasted that disparity afterward, and that complaint is now part of the mood heading into Game 5. (nbcsports.com) ### What does 2-2 actually mean here? It means the series has been reset, but not evenly in every way. Cleveland is now 6-0 at home in these playoffs and 0-5 on the road, so the next question is brutally obvious — can the Cavs bring any of this to Detroit? Game 5 is Wednesday, May 13, back at Little Caesars Arena. (sports.yahoo.com) ### Why does Detroit still have a real chance? Because the Pistons have already shown they can control this series at home, and Cade Cunningham is still the central engine of everything they do. But Detroit just got a loud reminder that one cold stretch against this Cleveland team can bury an otherwise solid night. The Cavalanche thing is real — four or five minutes can swing the entire game. (nbcsports.com) ### Bottom line? This stopped being a feel-good Pistons surge and turned into a real fight. Cleveland found its punch again, Mitchell reminded everyone what a playoff superstar looks like, and now Game 5 feels like the hinge of the series. Detroit still has home court. But the scariest player in the matchup just found his rhythm. (nba.com) (sports.yahoo.com)