Pistons beat Cavaliers in Game 6, force decisive Game 7 in Detroit

The Detroit Pistons kept their season going on Friday with a 115-94 road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The result tied the series 3-3 and sent it back to Detroit for a deciding Game 7, according to NBA.com. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 21 points, while Jalen Duren had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Cleveland, which had a chance to clinch at home, shot 39.0% from the field and committed 20 turnovers. ### How did Detroit push the series to a seventh game? Detroit built the margin with balance rather than one huge scoring night. Cunningham shot 5-for-10 from 3-point range and added eight assists, while Duren anchored the interior with 11 rebounds and three blocks, NBA.com’s box score showed. Daniss Jenkins scored 15 points, Duncan Robinson added 14 and Paul Reed had 17 off the bench. (nba.com) The Pistons shot 52.4% overall and 44.4% from 3-point range in Game 6. Detroit also finished with 43 rebounds, 25 assists and nine steals, compared with Cleveland’s 40 rebounds, 15 assists and 20 turnovers. ### Where did Cleveland’s closeout bid break down? Cleveland got 23 points from James Harden, but the Cavaliers did not get enough efficient scoring around him. (nba.com) Donovan Mitchell scored 18 points on 6-for-20 shooting, Evan Mobley had 18 points, and Cleveland’s starters outside Harden combined to go 20-for-51 from the field. The Cavaliers’ turnover count was one of the clearest numbers in the game. Harden had eight turnovers by himself, and Cleveland’s 20 total giveaways helped Detroit generate extra possessions in a game the Pistons controlled by the second half. ### How unusual is the spot Cleveland is in now? (nba.com) Cleveland had turned the series after dropping the first two games in Detroit. ESPN’s series tracker showed the Cavaliers won Game 3, Game 4 and Game 5, including a 117-113 overtime win on May 13, before failing to close out the series at Rocket Arena on Friday. (nba.com) Detroit, the No. 1 seed in the matchup, now gets the home floor for the deciding game. Sporting News’ series schedule listed Game 7 for May 17 in Detroit, with the series tied 3-3 after Friday’s result. ### Why does James Harden keep coming up in this series? (espn.com) The Cavaliers made a major in-season change on February 4, when the team announced it had acquired James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Darius Garland and draft considerations. Cleveland President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced the move in a team release. (sportingnews.com) Harden finished Game 6 with 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, but Cleveland still lost by 21. ESPN had described the trade as a win-now move, and Friday’s defeat left the Cavaliers needing a road win in Game 7 to reach the Eastern Conference finals. ### What should readers watch in Game 7? (nba.com) Game 7 will turn on whether Cleveland can clean up the mistakes that defined Game 6. The Cavaliers shot 34.3% from 3-point range and 73.3% from the foul line on Friday, while Detroit got double-digit scoring from six players and won the bench minutes decisively. (nba.com) Sunday, May 17, is the next date in the series, with Cleveland traveling to Detroit for the winner-take-all game. NBA.com and the published series schedule both list the matchup as Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, with the winner advancing to the Eastern Conference finals. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)