Pistons Rally Past Cavs OT
Detroit Pistons mounted a furious comeback in the final 3 minutes of regulation, forcing overtime and defeating Cleveland. Jalen Duren tied his career-high with 33 points and 16 rebounds, anchoring both ends while the Cavaliers played without four key contributors including Donovan Mitchell.
The Pistons' dramatic overtime win was punctuated by a bizarre 18-minute delay in the third quarter. A power surge caused the scoreboard to malfunction, leaving the arena with a continuously blaring horn. Officials eventually had to shut down the entire scoreboard system and resort to a manual airhorn for game signals. Detroit's comeback was improbable, as they trailed by nine points with just 2:44 remaining in regulation. The Pistons then went on a 16-7 run to close out the fourth quarter and force the extra period. The game-tying points came from Daniss Jenkins, who drew a foul on a three-point attempt with 4.7 seconds left and calmly sank all three free throws. The Cavaliers were severely shorthanded, playing without key starters Donovan Mitchell (groin) and James Harden (thumb). Their injury woes have been a recurring theme throughout the season, contributing to their current fourth-place standing in the Eastern Conference. Despite the absences, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley both had strong performances for Cleveland, with Allen scoring 25 points and Mobley adding 23. Cade Cunningham was instrumental for the Pistons, finishing with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists before fouling out with 1:56 left in regulation. Jalen Duren's 33 points and 16 rebounds marked his fourth consecutive double-double, a feat not seen from a Pistons player since the 1980-81 season. This victory improves the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons' record to 44-14.
