Pistons push Cavaliers 2-0

Detroit has turned this series into something Cleveland did not plan for. The Pistons beat the Cavaliers 107-97 in Game 2 on Thursday, May 7(nba.com)posed to be the harder round for a young Detroit team, not the moment it grabbed the matchup by the throat. Instead, Cade Cunn(nba.com) the team searching for answers. (nba.com) ### What actuall(espn.com) possessions. The Pistons led 54-43 at halftime, Cleveland pushed back in the third, and then Detroit finished the job with a 28-22 fourth quarter for the 10-point win. Cunningham scored 25 and handed out 10 assists, while Tobias Harris added 21. Donovan Mitchell had 31 for Cleveland, but the Cavs never fully took control. (nba.com) ### Why does Cunningham feel like the whole story? Because he is doin(nba.com)t, but the bigger thing is how he keeps deciding the pace and where Detroit gets its shots. NBA.com’s Game 2 breakdown highlighted that he scored 12 of his 25 in the fourth quarter, which is basically the difference between “good night” and “series-shifting star turn.” (nba.com) ### Is this just one hot shooting night? Not really. Detroit already won Game 1, 111-101, so this is (nba.com)The pattern is more important than the margin — Detroit has been the steadier team across both games, and Cleveland has spent too much of the series reacting. (nba.com) ### What is Detroit doing better? The Pistons are getting enough from everywhere that Cleveland cannot load up on one guy. Harris gave them 21 in Game 2. The supporting cast kept possessions alive, defen(nba.com)fortable. That is the annoying version of a playoff team to face — not one superstar and empty space, but a lead creator plus useful answers all over the floor. (nba.com) ### What has gone wrong for Cleveland? Cleveland still has Mitchell creating offense, but that has (nba.com)nd the lack of an answer for Cunningham as key concerns before Game 2, and those issues did not disappear. Sam Merrill also missed Game 2 with a hamstring injury after getting hurt in the opener, which trimmed Cleveland’s perimeter options. (nba.com) ### Does the 2-0 lead mean the series is over? No — but it means the burden has changed sides. Game 3 is set for Saturday, Ma(nba.com)s as slight favorites at home. That tells you the market thinks the series is alive. But the math is brutal now: Cleveland has to win four of the next five against a team that has looked more composed through two games. (espn.com) ### Why does this matter beyond one series? Because Detroit is not acting like a cute young team anymore. ESPN’s playoff(nba.com)hanges the conference picture fast. A 2-0 lead means the Pistons are now two wins from the Eastern Conference finals — and Cleveland is one more home loss from a full-blown collapse. (espn.com) ### Bottom line The headline is simple — Detroit has been better, and Cunningham has been the clearest reason(espn.com)tons win again on May 9, this stops being an upset story and starts looking like a bracket reset. (espn.com)