The Detroit Pistons were on the verge of taking a commanding 3-2 series lead, but a devastating late collapse turned triumph into heartbreak. Cade Cunningham poured in a playoff career-high 39 points, yet it wasn't enough as the Cleveland Cavaliers stormed back with a 9-0 run to force overtime and eventually claimed a 117-113 victory in Game 5 at Little Caesars Arena.

For three quarters, the Pistons looked like the team that earned the top seed in the East. Cunningham was unstoppable, slicing through Cleveland's defense and hitting clutch shot after clutch shot. But the Cavaliers, led by the veteran savvy of James Harden, refused to fold. Harden's poise in the game's biggest moments proved decisive, as he orchestrated the late-game surge that silenced the home crowd.

The crushing loss puts Detroit in a 3-2 series hole, with the Cavs now holding all the momentum after winning three straight games. The Pistons, who entered the series as heavy favorites, now face elimination on Friday night in Cleveland—a daunting task against a team that seems to have found its rhythm at exactly the right time.

What made the defeat even more painful was how it unfolded. After battling back from deficits all night, Detroit seemed to have the game in hand. But a combination of missed free throws, defensive breakdowns, and Harden's clutch play turned a potential celebration into a gut-wrenching overtime loss. The Pistons now must regroup quickly if they hope to extend their season and prove they belong among the Eastern Conference elite.