On May 12, the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pistons started Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren. In the series, Harris averaged 20.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 50% from the field and 45.5% from three-point range.
The Cavaliers countered with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Before the game, Basketball University highlighted clutch playoff performances: Mitchell was 2-for-16 in clutch situations (12.5% effective field goal percentage), while Harden was 5-for-12 (45.8%), and LeBron James was 4-for-12 (37.5%).
Cunningham was 6-for-11 (68.2%), and Tobias Harris was 2-for-7 (35.7%). Early in the game, the Pistons committed five turnovers in the first five minutes, with Thompson alone having two turnovers and two fouls before being subbed out. Harden started hot, hitting three straight three-pointers to account for 11 of Cleveland’s first 13 points. However, Caris LeVert replaced Thompson and led a 18-3 run to push Detroit ahead. After the first quarter, the Pistons led 24-21, with LeVert scoring 8 points on 4-for-7 shooting.
Harden was on fire, but Mitchell struggled, going 0-for-5 in the first quarter. In the second, LeVert continued his efficiency, scoring 9 points. Mitchell finally scored on his seventh attempt. Thompson continued to struggle, committing two more turnovers in four minutes in the second quarter, finishing the half with 2 points and 4 turnovers. At halftime, the Pistons led 56-52. Cunningham had 12 points and 5 assists, LeVert had 17 points, Harden had 15 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals, and Mitchell had just 4 points on 1-for-8 shooting.
The third quarter was a different story: The Cavaliers erupted with a 23-0 run, with Mitchell scoring 16 of those points. He shot 8-for-9 in the quarter, scoring 21 points—tying the Cavaliers’ franchise record for most points in a playoff quarter (previously held by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving). The Pistons managed only 21 points as a team in the third. Cleveland took a 90-77 lead into the fourth.
In the final quarter, Mitchell added 18 more points. With 50 seconds left, the Pistons cut the lead to 8, but the Cavaliers brought back their starters and sealed the 112-103 victory. The series is now tied 2-2, with Game 5 heading to Detroit. Mitchell finished with 43 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. Harden added 24 points and 11 assists. LeVert scored 24 points, while Cunningham had 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Harris contributed 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Who will win the pivotal Game 5?