The Detroit Pistons proved once again that they never go down without a fight—but in Game 3, that fight wasn't quite enough. Traveling to Rocket Arena for the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pistons left their shooting touch back in Motor City. After draining 50% of their three-pointers in Game 2, they stumbled to a frigid 14.3% from deep in the first half on Saturday, ultimately falling 116-109.
Despite the loss, Detroit still holds a commanding 2-1 series lead. Game 4 tips off Monday night in Cleveland, with Game 5 set for Wednesday back in Detroit (time TBD). The Pistons have a golden opportunity to seize control—but they'll need to tighten up their perimeter game.
The first half was a slog. The Pistons trailed by 16 at the break and fell behind by 17 early in the third quarter. But then came the trademark Detroit grit. A blistering 16-2 run flipped the script, giving the Pistons a 76-74 lead with 2:28 left in the third. The Cavs answered with a 9-0 burst, but Detroit wasn't done. In a wild final 6 seconds of the quarter, Tobias Harris beat the shot clock with a 14-footer, drew a foul, and completed a three-point play. Then, after Caris LeVert stole the inbounds pass, Harris scored again on a layup, cutting the deficit to just two points heading into the fourth.
The drama continued into the final frame. But with about a third of the quarter gone, the Cavs found their rhythm, unleashing a 7-0 run to create just enough breathing room. Cleveland avoided the dreaded 3-0 hole—a deficit no NBA team has ever overcome in a playoff series.
Cade Cunningham was magnificent, posting a triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Tobias Harris extended his playoff streak of 20-point games to eight straight, finishing with 21 points. For the Cavs, Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 34 points and 9 rebounds. James Harden—the goat of Game 2 for his late-game blunders—redeemed himself with several clutch fourth-quarter buckets, finishing with 19 points.
The Pistons started strong, building a seven-point lead in the first quarter, but couldn't sustain it, trailing 32-30 after one. The struggles from beyond the arc continued in the second, as the Cavs stretched their lead to five with under five minutes left in the half. From there, it became the Donovan Mitchell show, and Detroit's comeback fell just short.
For Pistons fans, the heart and hustle are undeniable. But if this team wants to close out the series, they'll need to bring their shooting—and their finishing touch—back home.