Per the report, the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a nine-point deficit late in regulation and defeated the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
James Harden scored a playoff-best 30 points and Donovan Mitchell added 21 as Cleveland completed the comeback. The Pistons had led by 15 in the first half and were ahead 103-94 with just over two minutes remaining before the Cavs rallied.
Evan Mobley tied the game at 103 with free throws with 45.2 seconds left, part of a 13-0 Cleveland run that spanned late in the fourth quarter into the middle of overtime. The Cavs held Detroit scoreless for about five minutes during that stretch and went up by seven on Mitchell’s 3-pointer with 2:39 remaining in overtime.
Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 39 points and nine assists and cut the deficit to two with a jumper with 25 seconds left. Harden made one free throw on the next possession, rebounded his miss on the second attempt and converted another free throw to help seal the win, per the report.
Cleveland’s victory was its first road win of the series and its first as a visitor this postseason, the report says. The Pistons had been 4-0 at home since Orlando’s late push in the first round, and the loss ended that streak.
Game 6 is scheduled for Friday night in Cleveland, where the fourth-seeded Cavaliers will get the first of two chances to advance to face the New York Knicks in the East finals if they win, per the report. If the top-seeded Pistons prevail, the series would return to Detroit for a Game 7 on Sunday. The report also notes Harden had eight rebounds and six assists; Max Strus hit six 3-pointers and scored 20 points; Mobley added 19 points; and Jarrett Allen finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.
