In a heartbreaking turn of events at Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Pistons watched a commanding lead slip through their fingers for the second straight game, falling 117-113 in overtime to the Cleveland Cavaliers. With just three minutes left in regulation, Tobias Harris nailed a mid-range jumper to put the Pistons up 103-94—a nine-point cushion that seemed to seal the deal. But basketball, as they say, is a game of runs, and the Cavaliers had one left in the tank.
Cleveland stormed back with a 9-0 surge to tie the game at 103-103, forcing overtime. Their momentum didn't stop there, as they opened the extra period with a 13-0 run that proved too much for Detroit to overcome. The loss drops the Pistons to a 3-2 series deficit in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, with Game 6 set for Friday in Cleveland.
It was a tale of two halves for Detroit. Trailing 89-85 with 9:40 left in the fourth, the Pistons flipped the switch, ripping off a 10-0 run to take a 95-89 lead. During that stretch, their defense stiffened, forcing three consecutive turnovers from the Cavaliers—a reminder of the gritty play that had given them an early edge in the series.
Cade Cunningham was the star of the show for Detroit, pouring in 39 points on 13-of-27 shooting, plus nine assists and six rebounds. He was clutch in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points to keep the Pistons in control. But beyond the All-NBA guard, offensive support was scarce. Daniss Jenkins, starting in place of the injured Duncan Robinson (low back soreness), chipped in 19 points, but it wasn't enough.
On the other side, the Pistons did a solid job containing Donovan Mitchell—who had exploded for 43 points in Game 4—holding him to 21 points, though seven of those came in overtime. James Harden led the Cavaliers with 30 points, proving to be a steady hand in the comeback.
For Pistons fans, this one stings. After battling back to tie the series, they now face elimination on the road. The team will need to regroup quickly if they want to force a Game 7 back in Detroit.