The Detroit Pistons tightened their grip on the Eastern Conference semi-final series on Thursday night, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-97 to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
Led by a brilliant performance from Cade Cunningham, Detroit once again delivered under pressure. The star guard finished with 25 points and 10 assists, while veteran forward Tobias Harris added 21 points as the Pistons continued their impressive postseason run.
Detroit have now won five straight playoff games after battling back from the brink of elimination against the Orlando Magic in the opening round.
“We just stayed poised,” Cunningham told broadcaster Prime. “Stuck to our principles, stuck to our system and just turned up the energy a little bit.”
Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers – As It Happened
The Cavaliers fought
hard to recover after trailing for most of the night. Donovan Mitchell produced a game-high 31 points, while Jarrett Allen contributed 22 points and seven rebounds in a much-improved display following a disappointing opener.
However, Cleveland struggled badly from beyond the arc in the final quarter, missing all 11 of their three-point attempts. James Harden also endured a difficult night, scoring only 10 points while committing four turnovers, including a costly late giveaway as the Cavs attempted a comeback.
Detroit’s supporting cast again played a crucial role. Duncan Robinson knocked down five three-pointers on his way to 17 points, while Daniss Jenkins provided a valuable spark off the bench with 14 points.
The game remained tightly contested heading into the fourth quarter, and Cleveland briefly grabbed the lead through Evan Mobley’s dunk early in the period. But Detroit responded quickly, with Robinson burying a key three-pointer before Cunningham sealed the result with another clutch shot from long range late in the game.
Cunningham acknowledged that the challenge will only grow tougher heading into Game 3 in Cleveland.
“They’re a tough team to beat at home, so we’re going to have to come in with a high level of focus and competitive spirit and we’ll get the job done,” he said.
(With inputs from Agencies)
