05/13/26 10:25:00
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05/13 22:24 CDT James Harden scores 30 and Cavaliers rally past Pistons 117-113
in OT for 3-2 series lead
James Harden scores 30 and Cavaliers rally past Pistons 117-113 in OT for 3-2
series lead
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
DETROIT (AP) --- James Harden scored a playoff-best 30 points and Donovan
Mitchell had 21, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers come back from a nine-point
deficit late in regulation and beat the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime on
Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The Pistons led by 15 points in the first half and 103-94 with two-plus minutes
left. The Cavs rallied and pulled into a 103-all tie on Evan Mobley's free
throws with 45.2 seconds left.
Cleveland went on a 13-0 run and held Detroit scoreless for five minutes from
late in fourth quarter to midway through overtime. The Cavs went ahead by seven
with 2:39 left in OT on Mitchell's 3-pointer.
Cade Cunningham, who had 39 points and nine assists, made a jumper to pull the
Pistons within two points with 25 seconds left.
Harden made one free throw on the ensuing possession and rebounded his missed
second attempt. He made another free throw to help seal the win.
Game 6 is Friday night in Cleveland, where the fourth-seeded Cavs will get the
first of two chances to advance to face the New York Knicks in the East finals.
If the top-seeded Pistons win, they will host Game 7 on Sunday.
Cleveland won the first road game of the series --- and its first as a visitor
this postseason.
The Pistons had won four straight games at home since Orlando put them on the
brink of elimination in Game 5 of the first round.
Harden had eight rebounds and six assists. Max Strus made six 3-pointers and
scored 20 points for the Cavs, Mobley added 19 points and Jarrett Allen had 16
points and nine rebounds.
Starting in place of the injured Duncan Robinson, Daniss Jenkins scored 19
points for the Pistons. Tobias Harris missed 13 of 19 shots and scored 13
points, and Jalen Duren was limited to nine points and five rebounds.
Mitchell was held to single digits in the first half for the second straight
game, and couldn't repeat his performance after halftime in Game 4. He was in
pain after turning his right ankle in the first half.
Mitchell tied an NBA playoff record with 39 points in the second half and
scored 43 points to help the Cavs rally to win Game 4.
The Pistons started the second quarter shooting 8 of 8 to take a 15-point lead.
Cunningham made a sixth 3-pointer, setting a career playoff high, and Jenkins
connected from beyond the arc with 5:25 left in regulation to give Detroit a
six-point lead and cap a 10-0 run that wasn't enough the seal the win in
regulation.
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