The Cleveland Cavaliers hold a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons following a 117-113 overtime victory on Wednesday, May 13. The fourth-seeded Cavaliers now seek to close out the series and advance to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.
Cleveland Erases Deficit to Seize Series Advantage
The Cleveland Cavaliers mounted a significant comeback on Wednesday night to overcome a late deficit and defeat the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime. The victory provides the fourth-seeded Cavaliers with a 3-2 advantage in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The Pistons controlled much of the contest, establishing a 15-point lead during the first half. Detroit appeared to be in position to take control of the series late in the fourth quarter, holding a 103-94 advantage with just over two minutes remaining in regulation. However, Cleveland responded with a surge that neutralized the Pistons’ lead.
The Cavaliers managed to tie the game at 103-all following free throws from Evan Mobley with 45.2 seconds left on the clock. Following that tie, Cleveland orchestrated a 13-0 run, holding the Pistons scoreless for five minutes spanning the end of the fourth quarter and the middle of the overtime period.
In the overtime period, Donovan Mitchell hit a three-pointer to give Cleveland a seven-point lead with 2:39 remaining. Detroit’s Cade Cunningham kept the Pistons within striking distance, making a jumper to bring the score within two points with 25 seconds left. James Harden eventually secured the win by making a free throw and rebounding his own missed second attempt on the ensuing possession.
That stretch right there says a lot about our progress – mental performance progress and mental toughness progress.
Kenny Atkinson, Cavaliers coach
Scoring Leaders and Statistical Highlights
Individual performances were central to the overtime result. James Harden led the Cavaliers with 30 points, adding eight rebounds and six assists to his stat line. Donovan Mitchell contributed 21 points to the Cleveland effort.
The Pistons were led by Cade Cunningham, who recorded 39 points and nine assists. Despite the loss, Cunningham’s scoring kept Detroit competitive throughout the second half and the overtime period.
Contact Controversy and Coaching Reactions
The closing moments of regulation were marked by physical play and disagreement between the coaching staffs. Just before the buzzer sounded to end the fourth quarter, Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen and Detroit’s Ausar Thompson became tangled during a play for a loose ball. No foul was called on the play by the officials.
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff expressed frustration with the officiating regarding the contact between the two players.
He fouled Ausar – clearly. He tripped him when he was going for a loose ball.
J.B. Bickerstaff, Pistons coach
Series Outlook and Remaining Schedule
The series remains highly competitive as the top-seeded Pistons attempt to force a deciding game. Having lost the Wednesday matchup in Detroit, the Pistons face the possibility of traveling to Cleveland for a potential Game 7.
If the Pistons win the next game, they will host Game 7 on Sunday, May 17. The winner of the series will advance to the Eastern Conference finals to face the New York Knicks.
