CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers extended their undefeated home playoff streak and evened the series behind a dominant third-quarter surge, defeating the Detroit Pistons 112-103 in Game 4 on Monday night.
The No. 4 seed Cavaliers used a 38-point third quarter, including a 22-0 run to open the half, to take control and secure their sixth consecutive home playoff victory.
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The win tied the best-of-seven series at 2-2.
Donovan Mitchell led the charge with a historic second half, finishing with 43 points. After scoring just four points in the first half, Mitchell erupted for 39 points after the break, tying an NBA playoff record set by Sleepy Floyd.
James Harden added a strong all-around performance with 24 points and 11 assists for Cleveland.
Detroit’s bench provided one of its few bright spots, with former Michigan standout Caris LeVert scoring 24 points, including 17 in the first half. Paul Reed added 15 points in the loss.
Cade Cunningham finished with 19 points and six assists, while Tobias Harris contributed 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the top-seeded Pistons.
Turnovers proved costly for Detroit, which committed 10 in the first half and eight more in the second, finishing with 18 total. Cleveland repeatedly turned mistakes into points during its third-quarter outburst.
Duncan Robinson struggled offensively with four points in 29 minutes, while Ausar Thompson also finished with four points as both players battled foul trouble throughout the game.
Cleveland’s 22-0 run to start the third quarter set the tone for the second half, overwhelming Detroit on both ends of the floor as the Cavaliers maintained their perfect home playoff record.
Game 5 will shift to Detroit, where the Pistons will host a pivotal matchup Wednesday, May 13, at Little Caesars Arena.
1st quarter
The Cavaliers won the opening tip and immediately looked to feed Jarrett Allen, but the possession ended in a turnover forced by Ausar Thompson.
On the ensuing trip, Detroit’s Jalen Duren turned the ball over after Tobias Harris missed an open 3-point attempt.
Cade Cunningham put the Pistons on the board first with a contested three-pointer, but Harden answered quickly with a 3 of his own to keep Cleveland in front.
The Pistons’ early offensive struggles continued when Duren was blocked by Evan Mobley.
Harris later connected on a mid-range jumper, but Harden continued to push the pace, turning a steal into another 3-pointer to give Cleveland an 8-5 lead.
Duren missed a running layup on the next possession, and Harden was fouled by former Michigan Wolverines star Duncan Robinson on the other end. Harden converted both free throws to extend the lead to 10-5.
Cunningham was then blocked by Dean Wade, while Robinson missed a contested 3-pointer as Detroit tried to respond from the perimeter.
Thompson secured a defensive rebound but lost the ball out of bounds on the offensive end after Mobley challenged a layup attempt, leading to a jump ball.
Allen gained possession for Cleveland, and Harden again capitalized with a 3-pointer.
Detroit called a timeout with 7:45 remaining in the quarter, trailing 13-5.
Harden accounted for 11 of Cleveland’s first 13 points in the opening frame.
Harden stole the ball on one possession, leading to a fast break where Allen attacked the rim and nearly dunked on Thompson.
Allen was fouled on the play and split a pair of free throws.
Detroit’s offense struggled to stabilize as Robinson turned the ball over while attempting to feed Duren under the basket.
The mistake led to an Evan Mobley transition finish, and Thompson was whistled for his second foul on the play.
Mobley hit both free throws to extend Cleveland’s run to 10-0.
Caris LeVert, another former Wolverines star, stopped the momentum briefly with a midrange jumper, cutting the deficit as Detroit trailed 16-7.
Harden missed a 3-pointer on the next possession, and LeVert responded by attacking off the dribble, drawing a foul on Harris during a drive that resulted in free throws.
Mobley added a jumper, but Detroit answered when Duren established position in the post and scored through contact on a contested finish at the rim before LeVert drilled a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 18-15, expanding their run to 10-2 before the Cavaliers’ timeout with 5:18 to play.
The Pistons closed the first quarter on a strong run, overcoming an early double-digit deficit to take a 24-21 lead over the Cavaliers.
Coming out of a timeout, Harris knocked down a 14-foot jumper before Allen missed a close-range attempt at the rim for Cleveland.
Detroit then grabbed its first lead of the game when Caris LeVert found Isaiah Stewart underneath the basket for an easy finish, putting the Pistons ahead 19-18.
The Cavaliers struggled to regain momentum as Harden committed a double-dribble turnover on the next possession.
LeVert later missed a contested floater, but Detroit continued to pressure defensively.
Daniss Jenkins secured a defensive rebound and pushed the ball coast-to-coast before being called for an offensive foul against former Pistons guard Schröder.
Stewart came up with another defensive rebound after Max Strus missed from beyond the arc.
Cunningham missed a 3-point attempt on the other end, allowing Schröder to answer with a layup for Cleveland.
LeVert responded with a 3-pointer to put Detroit back in front 22-20 before Jaylon Tyson was fouled and split a pair of free throws.
2nd quarter
LeVert continued his strong performance to begin the second quarter Wednesday night, helping the Pistons briefly maintain momentum before the Cavaliers rallied back to regain the lead.
LeVert opened the quarter with a floater, extending Detroit’s scoring run after the Pistons erased an early double-digit deficit in the first quarter.
Duren followed with a contested drive to the rim for a layup, but Mobley answered with a 3-pointer for Cleveland.
On the next possession, Sam Merrill fouled Robinson, who split a pair of free throws to give Detroit a 29-24 advantage.
Ronald Holland II was then called for a foul while defending Donovan Mitchell, and Max Strus capitalized moments later by drilling a 3-pointer off a Mitchell assist.
LeVert stayed aggressive offensively, knocking down a contested jumper before making an impact defensively by stripping Mobley near the rim.
After LeVert missed on another jumper attempt, Ausar Thompson came up with a steal but lost possession when Strus stripped the ball away and converted a fast-break dunk.
Cleveland continued to build momentum when Merrill connected on a 25-foot 3-pointer to put the Cavaliers back in front 32-31.
Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff called a timeout with 8:48 remaining in the first half as Cleveland reclaimed the lead.
Detroit carried a four-point lead into halftime after a back-and-forth second quarter against Cleveland.
Thompson opened the stretch with a layup to give Detroit the lead before Robinson fouled Harden on the other end.
The Cavaliers answered quickly when Merrill buried a 26-foot 3-pointer after Cunningham lost track of him defensively.
Duren responded with a lob finish to tie the game.
Cunningham then went coast-to-coast for a layup and converted the ensuing free throw to complete a three-point play, putting Detroit ahead by three. Dennis Schroder answered with an open three-pointer to tie the game at 38-38.
Detroit’s turnover issues resurfaced when Thompson committed the team’s 10th turnover of the first half.
Cleveland gave the ball right back moments later as Schröder turned it over, leading to a Harris steal and assist to LeVert for a fast-break layup.
Harris stayed active defensively, stripping Harden before Duren was fouled in the paint.
Harris later had a shot blocked at the rim, but Isaiah Stewart followed with a basket that gave Detroit a 42-38 lead entering a timeout with 5:04 remaining in the half.
Mobley made a contested floater for Cleveland before Harris missed a contested jumper.
Javonte Green was then called for a foul on Mitchell, who split a pair of free throws for his first point of the half.
LeVert missed a contested floater before Stewart fouled Allen.
On the next possession, LeVert stripped Max Strus for a turnover, leading to a Harris three-pointer.
Harden continued attacking the basket and drew a foul on Stewart, converting both free throws.
Cunningham answered with a contested jumper over Harden before Mitchell knocked down a corner three-pointer to cut Detroit’s lead to 47-46.
Harris added another contested jumper before Duren fouled Allen, who made both free throws.
Detroit extended its lead again when LeVert connected on a corner three-pointer following three offensive rebounds.
Harden answered by drawing a foul on LeVert and making both free throws as the Pistons held a 52-50 advantage with 1:10 left in the half.
Strus later fouled Cunningham, who converted both free throws.
Mitchell then committed a turnover that led to a Harris driving layup.
Harden found Mobley for a late basket before Cunningham missed a last-second attempt as the Pistons took a 56-52 lead into halftime.
LeVert led Detroit with 17 points off the bench, while Harris had 14 points and Cunningham had 12 points to end the half.
3rd quarter
Harris opened the half with an airball on a three-point attempt before Harden found Mitchell for a floater to cut into the Pistons’ advantage.
Harris then missed a contested three-pointer on Detroit’s next possession, and Mitchell continued his surge by drawing contact while converting another floater over Cunningham.
Mitchell completed the three-point play to give Cleveland the lead.
Cunningham missed a floater on the other end before Mitchell buried a wide-open 3-pointer, prompting Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff to call a timeout with 10:24 remaining in the third quarter as Cleveland moved ahead 60-56.
The Cavaliers’ run continued after the timeout.
Cunningham missed from beyond the arc, and Harden responded by finding Allen underneath the basket for an easy score.
Mitchell, who scored eight straight points during the stretch, stayed aggressive defensively as well.
Harden later drew an offensive foul on Jalen Duren, giving the Detroit center his third foul of the game.
Paul Reed entered for the Pistons and helped force a 24-second shot clock violation, briefly slowing Cleveland’s momentum.
But Detroit continued to struggle offensively. Ausar Thompson was blocked at the rim, and Mitchell answered with another 3-pointer to cap a 16-0 Cavaliers run to open the second half.
Bickerstaff called another timeout with 8:16 left in the quarter as Detroit fell behind 68-56.
Cunningham committed a turnover early in the quarter, and Mitchell immediately capitalized with a 3-pointer that extended Cleveland’s run to 19-0.
The Cavaliers continued to dominate on both ends as Reed was called for a foul on Allen during an offensive rebound attempt.
Cleveland’s scoring burst eventually reached 21-0, marking the franchise’s largest run since 1997.
Detroit finally stopped the drought after another Cunningham turnover led to a Mitchell floater.
Reed answered with a dunk for the Pistons, but Mitchell continued attacking the paint and scored another floater before Reed knocked down a 3-pointer.
Mitchell later drew a foul on Caris LeVert and converted both free throws as Cleveland extended its advantage during a 26-5 stretch.
LeVert briefly sparked Detroit by drawing a foul on chröder and completing a three-point play.
Mitchell answered again with a contested floater before Merrill fouled Robinson.
Mitchell exited to the bench shortly afterward with 25 points as Cleveland maintained control.
Detroit continued battling late in the quarter as LeVert converted a dunk and Reed added a driving layup.
On the next possession, the Pistons secured a defensive rebound and found Reed underneath the basket, where he was fouled.
Reed missed the first free throw before Cleveland called timeout with 3:12 remaining in the third quarter.
Reed missed both free throws coming out of a timeout before Robinson was called for his third foul of the game on the defensive end.
Detroit forced a turnover moments later and capitalized when Reed finished a reverse layup to trim the deficit.
But Cunningham was then whistled for a foul that sent Mobley to the free-throw line, where he converted both attempts.
Trailing by 12 with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter, Cunningham committed another turnover.
Robinson responded on the next possession by securing a defensive rebound and knocking down a three-pointer to briefly spark the Pistons.
Harden answered immediately for Cleveland with a three-pointer of his own.
Jenkins later had a shot blocked by Mobley, leading to a contested floater off the glass by Dennis Schröder on the other end.
Reed continued to provide offense for Detroit, adding another layup in the paint.
Harden then drew a foul on Robinson while attempting a three-pointer.
The veteran guard made all three free throws to extend Cleveland’s advantage to 90-75 with nine seconds left in the quarter.
Reed closed the period with a putback basket as Detroit entered the fourth quarter trailing 90-77.
The Cavaliers used a 22-0 run to open the third quarter, led by Mitchell, to seize momentum after trailing by four points at halftime.
4th quarter
Mobley was called for a loose-ball foul to open the quarter, but Cunningham missed a jumper on Detroit’s ensuing possession.
Cleveland quickly converted the miss into points as Mobley scored on a layup, followed by a driving finish from Mitchell after Mobley blocked a shot on the defensive end.
Detroit’s struggles continued when Duren was called for another offensive foul, his fourth personal foul of the game, with the Pistons trailing by 17.
Mitchell stayed aggressive offensively and added another driving layup to push Cleveland’s lead to 19 points.
Mobley later missed a deep three-point attempt, and Cunningham grabbed the defensive rebound before Harris missed a contested jumper on the other end.
Mitchell then drew contact and converted two free throws for his 30th point of the night.
Cunningham, who had been held scoreless in the third quarter, finally recorded his first basket of the second half with a jumper.
Mitchell answered again at the free-throw line, making two more shots.
Cunningham connected on another jumper before Mitchell misfired on a shot that sailed out of bounds with 7:39 remaining.
Detroit showed signs of life moments later when Duren dunked over Allen to trim the deficit back to 17.
The Pistons then forced back-to-back defensive stops.
Duren blocked Harden at the rim before Allen was stripped by Thompson.
Thompson pushed the ball in transition and found Cunningham for an open 3-pointer.
Cleveland called a timeout with 6:56 left in the game, holding a 100-86 lead.
Mitchell had 29 points in the second half, his playoff high for a half was 31 as there was still 6:56 toplay.
Detroit briefly generated momentum defensively in the fourth quarter, but Mitchell continued to take over offensively for the Cavaliers.
Detroit forced a 24-second shot clock violation before Cunningham committed another turnover while attempting to feed Duren underneath the basket.
Duren appeared to be looking for the rebound rather than the pass as the ball sailed out of bounds.
Mitchell capitalized on the mistake by drawing a foul on Thompson and converting both free throws.
The pair of foul shots tied Mitchell’s career high with 31 points in a half as Cleveland continued to control the game late in the fourth quarter.
Schröder later fouled Cunningham on the other end, but Detroit struggled to convert consistently as Harris missed a contested jumper.
Mitchell stayed hot, knocking down a 3-pointer before Thompson answered with a reverse layup for Detroit.
The Cavaliers star continued his scoring barrage with another floater in the lane, followed by another three-pointer to extend Cleveland’s lead.
LeVert missed a three-point attempt for Detroit but followed with an offensive tip-in to keep the Pistons within striking distance.
Mitchell was fouled again with 2:48 remaining as Cleveland maintained firm control down the stretch.
Mitchell, with his eighth playoff 40-point game, made both free throws for 42 points as Cleveland led 109-93 with 2:42 to play.
Jenkins got fouled and went to the line to make both.
Marcus Sasser drilled a corner three-pointer before Reed missed at the rim.
Mobley got an offensive rebound and putback jam to stop the bleeding before Holland II turned the ball over as Mitchell tied a played a playoff record with Sleepy Floyd for 39 points in a half, as he split a pair.