Behind a dominant second-half performance and an explosive 48-point output from their bench, the Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-94 to tie the series 3-3.
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| Photo: AP |
The Detroit Pistons once again proved their elite resilience when facing elimination. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff's squad invaded the Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday night, securing a commanding 115-94 blowout victory over the Cavaliers to tie the Eastern Conference Semifinals 3-3 and force a decisive Game 7.
Detroit’s offense operated at a high level, shooting over 50% from the field. Cade Cunningham led the charge with 21 points, knocking down five 3-pointers. The victory was a total team effort, with six Pistons scoring in double figures. Detroit's bench absolutely dismantled Cleveland's reserves, outscoring them 48-19. Paul Reed provided a massive spark off the bench with 17 points, while Duncan Robinson returned from a back injury to add 14 points on four triples.
The Cavaliers struggled to find a consistent rhythm outside of James Harden, who led Cleveland with 23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley contributed 18 points each, and Jarrett Allen added 13. However, Cleveland’s 20 turnovers proved fatal, leading to 28 direct points for Detroit. The Pistons also excelled on the boards, turning 13 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points.
Despite a brief injury scare in the third quarter due to a sprained ankle, center Jalen Duren remained on the floor to log 15 points and a double-double in rebounds. Daniss Jenkins also chipped in 15 points for Detroit. The 21-point margin of victory tied a 66-year-old NBA playoff record for the largest Game 6 road win by a team trailing 3-2 in a series. The winner of Sunday's Game 7 in Detroit will advance to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
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