Detroit beats Cavaliers 107-97

Detroit just turned this series into something real. The Pistons beat Cleveland 107-97 in Game 2 on Thursday night, and now the Eastern Conference semifinal is (apnews.com)s was not a fluky steal-and-run win. Detroit controlled long stretches, got the best player on the floor late, and made Cleveland look rushed when the game tightened. (apnews.com) ### Why does this result feel bigger than one game? Because 2-0 changes the whole argument. Detroit already t(espn.com)eries right back. The Pistons are the team with margin now, and Cleveland is the team that has to fix things fast before Game 3 on Saturday, May 9. (nba.com) ### Who actually swung Game 2? Cade Cunningham did. He finished with 25 points and 10 assists, and the really important part came late — 12 of those points arrived in the fourth quarter. When Cleveland started making its pus(apnews.com) Detroit 21 more, which mattered because it kept Cleveland from loading everything onto Cunningham. (apnews.com) ### What did Cleveland get right? Donovan Mitchell still looked like Donovan Mitchell. He scored 31, and for st(nba.com) defense. Jarrett Allen led Cleveland in rebounds with seven, but that number also hints at the problem — Cleveland never really owned the glass or imposed itself physically the way a team trying to even a series usually does. (nba.com) ### So where did the game tilt? At the edges. Detroit shot 50% from 3-point range, going 14-for-28, while also staying efficient(apnews.com)an enough to take over. The Pistons also got enough support from the rest of the rotation that Cunningham’s playmaking kept producing real points, not empty touches. (nba.com) ### Why is Cunningham the story now? Because this is the version of a franchise player that changes a playoff bracket. Not just a scorer — a closer. Not just a creato(nba.com)s. NBA.com’s takeaway from the game centered on Cunningham taking command, and that feels right. When the fourth quarter arrived, Detroit had the calm and Cleveland had the anxiety. (nba.com) ### Is this already an upset? Basically, yes. Cleveland is the higher seed, and teams do come back from 0-2, especially once (nba.com)ice. The Pistons are 60-22 this season and 31-9 at home, so this is not some cute underdog run built on one hot night. Still, the next test is different — now they have to prove the formula travels. (espn.com) ### What does Cleveland need next? More than a Mitchell scoring binge. The Cavaliers need cleaner half-court offense, more control of the possession battle, (nba.com)uard keeps getting to play at his own pace, Cleveland will spend the whole series reacting. (espn.com) ### Bottom line Detroit did not just win Game 2. The Pistons grabbed the series by the throat. Now Cleveland has two days to make sure this doesn’t become the round where its season starts slipping away. (espn.com)