Cade Cunningham scored 23 and Tobias Harris added 20 as the Pistons beat the Cavaliers 111-101 in Game 1 of the second round.
A postseason narrative shifted early in Detroit, and Cade Cunningham made sure it stayed that way.
In Game 1 of the Pistons’ second-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cunningham scored 23 points and Tobias Harris finished with 20 as Detroit took a 111-101 win.. Duncan Robinson added 19 for the Pistons. who also ended an NBA record-tying stretch of postseason losses against a single opponent that dated back to the 2007 Eastern Conference finals.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 23 points as the Cavaliers navigated long stretches of the game without the cushion they sought.
Meanwhile, James Harden contributed 22 and Max Strus scored 19, and Cleveland fought back after Detroit built a solid lead.. The Pistons were up 37-31 after the first quarter and carried a 59-46 advantage into the second half.. Cleveland then narrowed the gap late in the third. highlighted by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Ron Holland to set Detroit’s cushion at 83-76 entering the fourth.
Harden. now with Detroit as part of his first postseason game against his former team. helped keep the Cavaliers within reach.. After the Cavs cut the deficit to three early in the fourth. Detroit answered with eight straight points to push the game back into double digits.. Cleveland later tied it at 93 with 5:28 left, but Detroit’s defense and execution held firm.
A pivotal sequence came when Jarrett Allen’s production was limited to two points and three rebounds. and the Cavaliers’ momentum faced resistance at the rim.. Jalen Duren blocked Harden’s next attempt and followed with a stretch of scoring possessions. each assisted by Cunningham. as Detroit protected the lead and closed out the win.
This kind of Game 1 matters because it sets the tone for adjustments over the next contest, especially in a series where momentum can swing quickly and early leads may not last.
Game 2 is set for Thursday night in Detroit. with both teams returning to the floor after two days of high-stakes playoff wins.. The matchup also carries extra context for Cleveland’s season since Donovan Mitchell’s scoring run in opener games ended. while Detroit’s path to this moment reflects a rapid shift from past struggles to new postseason urgency.