Turnovers sink Cavaliers in 111–101 Game 1 loss to Pistons
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DETROIT — Twenty giveaways proved too steep a hill for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, paving the way for a 111-101 defeat to the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Cleveland’s ball-handling woes began early and never relented, with James Harden responsible for seven of the team’s 20 turnovers. Despite erasing an 18-point deficit to pull even midway through the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers could not withstand Detroit’s late surge.
Cade Cunningham paced the Pistons with 23 points, while Tobias Harris added 20. Duncan Robinson chipped in 19 off the bench, helping Detroit control momentum for most of the night and win the majority of loose-ball and rebounding battles.
The loss snapped Donovan Mitchell’s NBA-record run of nine consecutive 30-point performances in series openers; he finished with 23 points. Harden supplied 22, and Max Strus scored 19, but Cleveland struggled to generate consistent offense beyond that trio.
After dominating Toronto in the first round, Jarrett Allen never found his footing, limited to two points and three rebounds in 24 minutes.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s club will look to address its turnover issues, physicality in scrums and work on the defensive glass before Game 2, scheduled for Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Source: Hoops Wire
