The Detroit Pistons are heading to Cleveland with a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference second round, and all eyes are on Cade Cunningham as he looks to bounce back from a tough Game 3 loss.
The Pistons, who dominated the regular season with a league-best 60-22 record, stumbled in their last matchup against the Cavaliers on Saturday, falling 116-109. Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell was unstoppable, dropping 35 points to lead his team to victory, while Cunningham countered with 27 points of his own. Now, Detroit needs to regain its footing on the road to take a commanding 3-1 lead.
Cleveland finished the regular season at 52-30, good for fourth in the East, and has been tough at home. The Cavaliers are 33-19 against Eastern Conference opponents, but they've shown vulnerability in close games, going just 2-5 in contests decided by fewer than 4 points. That's a stat the Pistons will look to exploit in what promises to be a high-stakes battle.
Detroit, meanwhile, has been a powerhouse in conference play with a 39-13 record. The Pistons average 117.8 points per game on 48.5% shooting, ranking fourth in the East in scoring. Their defense has also been stingy, allowing just 109.6 points per game—a key advantage that could swing the series back in their favor.
For Cleveland, Mitchell has been the engine, averaging 27.9 points on 48.3% shooting. James Harden has also been a threat from deep, knocking down 2.2 three-pointers per game over his last 10 outings. On the Pistons' side, Jalen Duren is a double-double machine, putting up 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, while Duncan Robinson has been heating up from beyond the arc with 3.3 made threes per game in his last 10.
Looking at recent form, the Cavaliers have gone 5-5 in their last 10 games, averaging 109.7 points while giving up 109.8. The Pistons have been slightly better at 6-4, scoring 104.4 points per game but holding opponents to just 99.8—a defensive edge that could be the difference in a tight playoff series.
With the series hanging in the balance, expect both teams to come out firing. Can Cunningham lead the Pistons to a crucial road win, or will Mitchell and the Cavaliers even the score? Game 4 is set to be a thriller.