DETROIT — The Cleveland Cavaliers erased a late nine-point deficit and defeated the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime on Wednesday night, securing their first road victory of the postseason and moving ahead 3-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
James Harden delivered a playoff-high 30 points, collected eight rebounds and handed out six assists. Donovan Mitchell added 21 points, capping Cleveland’s decisive 13-0 burst with a three-pointer that put the Cavaliers up 112-105 with 2:39 remaining in the extra period.
Detroit, the East’s top seed, led by 15 in the opening half and 103-94 with just over two minutes left in regulation. Cleveland rallied, tying the game at 103 on two Evan Mobley free throws with 45.2 seconds to play. The Pistons then went scoreless for five minutes spanning the end of regulation and the first half of overtime.
Cade Cunningham paced Detroit with 39 points and nine assists. His jumper cut the deficit to 115-113 with 25 seconds left, but Harden hit one of two free throws, grabbed the rebound on his miss and sank another foul shot to close out the win.
Max Strus hit six three-pointers and scored 20 for Cleveland. Mobley finished with 19 points, while Jarrett Allen posted 16 points and nine rebounds.
Game 6 is scheduled for Friday night in Cleveland, giving the fourth-seeded Cavaliers their first chance to advance to an Eastern Conference finals match-up with the New York Knicks. Should Detroit even the series, it would host a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday.
Source: ESPN
