Cleveland Cavaliers Secure Win Against Detroit Pistons

CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell had a standout performance, scoring 39 points in the second half, which helped the Cleveland Cavaliers clinch a 112-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons in the second round of their playoff series on Monday night.

Mitchell matched a playoff record initially set by Eric “Sleepy” Floyd, making a free throw with just 27.6 seconds remaining. He had an opportunity to surpass the 1987 record against the Los Angeles Lakers, but missed his second attempt.

Overall, Mitchell tallied 43 points, contributing significantly during a remarkable 24-0 run that stretched from the final moments of the first half to the opening minutes of the third quarter. Cleveland led 56-52 at halftime, but quickly took control.

During that stretch, the Cavs capitalized on their shooting, making 10 of 12 field goals and hitting three shots from beyond the arc. They also turned five Pistons turnovers into nine points.

This 24-0 run was the longest in any NBA playoff game since Minnesota achieved a similar feat in 2024 against Denver. It marked Cleveland’s most significant offensive burst in the postseason since tracking began in 1997-98. Mitchell had previously recorded 19 points in a different playoff matchup against Boston.

James Harden also contributed with 24 points and 11 assists, marking his 40th double-double in playoff history. Meanwhile, Evan Mobley added 17 points, five blocks, and three steals, helping the Cavs maintain their undefeated record in six postseason games at home.

For Detroit, Caris LeVert had a season-high scoring night with 24 points, while Cade Cunningham managed 19 points, marking the first time he fell below 20 in 11 playoff games this season. Tobias Harris added another 16 points to the Pistons’ efforts.

Looking ahead, Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night in Detroit.

In the early phases of the game, Harden netted 11 points, including three 3-pointers, allowing the Cavaliers to jump to a quick 16-5 lead. However, the Pistons fought back with a 23-5 run, highlighted by 10 points from LeVert. During that stretch, Detroit shot 9 of 13, while Cleveland struggled, going 2 for 14 and missing all their eight attempts from three-point range.

Cleveland’s largest lead of the game reached 21 points late in the fourth quarter.