Tobias Harris anchors Pistons with veteran scoring punch as Detroit heads to Cleveland up 2–0
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DETROIT — Forward Tobias Harris has become Detroit’s go-to secondary scorer and locker-room mentor, averaging 21.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals through the postseason as the Pistons carry a 2-0 first-round lead into Sunday’s Game 3 against the Cavaliers in Cleveland.
Harris, 33, said the last two seasons of his second stint with Detroit have been a joy. “I love being a part of this team, I love being with these guys,” he told The Athletic, noting the close bonds he has formed despite being the roster’s elder statesman. Harris will enter free agency this summer.
Impact on Cunningham’s development
Guard Cade Cunningham credited Harris for helping him sharpen his game and daily routine. “He’s shown me things on and off the court—professionalism, ways to make my life easier and do my job more efficiently,” Cunningham said. Harris’s versatility, Cunningham added, allows Detroit to deploy him on the perimeter or in the post for timely fourth-quarter buckets.
Thompson headlines defensive focus
Rookie wing Ausar Thompson, selected No. 5 overall by the previous front office, has drawn praise for his defensive presence. The Detroit Free Press reported that Thompson’s ability to influence games on that end could reshape how executives evaluate draft prospects, especially in a postseason where several elite three-point shooting teams have already been eliminated.
Cunningham shines as closer
Cunningham leads all playoff scorers at 30.6 points per game while shooting 45.0 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from deep. “He’s a killer closer,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said via Pistons.com. Cunningham said high-pressure possessions “fuel” him: “You’ve got to make plays.”
Jenkins steadies second unit
Reserve point guard Daniss Jenkins found his rhythm after a slow start to his first postseason, averaging 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists over the last three contests. He also recorded four steals in the series opener against Cleveland. “You can’t simulate the playoffs,” Jenkins said, adding that he needed time to adjust to the intensity and physicality.
Game 3 tips off Sunday afternoon at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where Detroit will try to push its first-round advantage to 3–0.
Source: Hoops Rumors
