DETROIT – Daniss Jenkins said the Detroit Pistons “weren’t supposed to lose that lead” after a fourth-quarter collapse at Little Caesars Arena resulted in a 117-113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5.
Detroit led by nine points late in the fourth quarter before Cleveland rallied to force overtime and take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
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“We ain’t supposed to lose that lead like that, man,” Jenkins said. “We just got to be better. We got to execute better.”
Jenkins, stepping into a larger postseason role in the absence of guard Duncan Robinson, said the Pistons’ struggles down the stretch came on both ends of the floor, particularly on defense.
“Defensively, we gave up too many timely threes,” Jenkins said.
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Jenkins finished with 19 points, two rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks while stepping in for the former Michigan Wolverines sharpshooter.
Jenkins said he focused on being aggressive early and letting the game come to him naturally.
“I was just trying to come in and do my job,” Jenkins said. “When I get going on defense, my energy is going, and then the ball finds me.”
He turned in a more active offensive performance and said playing alongside guard Marcus Sasser helped provide spacing and energy during key stretches.
“He helps space the floor, and I try to attack and get downhill,” Jenkins said. “Any spark he can give us is a win for us.”
Cleveland’s defensive adjustments shift momentum
Cleveland’s late-game surge came after repeatedly doubling Cade Cunningham and forcing the ball out of his hands, a strategy Jenkins said Detroit should have handled more effectively.
“That’s an advantage for us when they do that,” Jenkins said. “We just got to execute better.”
Asked what specifically changed in the final minutes, Jenkins pointed to perimeter defense as the deciding factor.
“It starts at the point of attack,” Jekins said. “We’ve got to do a better job of getting the ball into coverage and not giving up threes.”
Jenkins said no single play defined the loss; rather, it was a string of defensive breakdowns late in regulation.
“They only get open threes when we lose our guys and have to help,” Jenkins said. “If we execute better, we win that game.”
Detroit will travel to Cleveland needing a win to force a Game 7.
--> Detroit Pistons lose grip on series after crushing late-game collapse vs. Cleveland