DETROIT – Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham said the team failed to execute down the stretch in a 117-113 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena, pointing to a late fourth-quarter collapse and costly overtime mistakes as the deciding factors in a Game 5 defeat.
Detroit held a nine-point lead late in regulation before Cleveland rallied to force overtime and eventually secured the win, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
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“They played better than us,” Cunningham said. “They executed. They scored more points than us.”
The Pistons struggled to close the game after leading late in the fourth quarter, a stretch Cunningham said came down to execution on both ends of the floor.
“We just didn’t close the game,” Cunningham said. “Didn’t play at the level that it takes to win this game.”
Non-call looms large in final minutes
A key moment came in the final sequence of regulation when Detroit forward Ausar Thompson was involved in a loose-ball play with Cleveland center Jarrett Allen.
No foul was called, and the Cavaliers maintained possession during the critical stretch.
Cunningham said he believed the contact should have drawn a whistle.
“I think it’s pretty clear it was a foul,” Cunningham said. “He gets tripped up. That’s a foul. It’s been a foul the whole rest of the game.”
Cunningham added that in close-game situations, officials are often reluctant to make decisive calls.
“Nobody wants to make that call,” Cunningham said. “Everybody just wants to allow the game to sort itself out.”
Overtime turnover proves costly
Cleveland capitalized in the final minutes of regulation and carried that momentum into overtime, where Detroit again struggled to protect the ball.
Cunningham singled out a costly turnover in overtime as a moment he wished he could take back.
“Max Strus got a steal, got a layup,” Cunningham said. “If I could just single out one play, I wish I could have that back.”
Despite the disappointment, Cunningham acknowledged that Detroit had opportunities earlier to put the game away, including its late regulation lead.
“Giving up that lead, not executing down the stretch, is what really hurt,” Cunningham said.
Reed’s energy a bright spot for Detroit
Cunningham praised the impact of teammate Paul Reed, who provided energy and production during key minutes in the second half.
“He’s been great,” Cunningham said. “Rebounding, finishing around the basket, bringing a lot of energy.”
‘We’ve got to go win a game’
With the series shifting to Cleveland, where the Cavaliers have been dominant, Cunningham said the message heading into Game 6 is straightforward.
“We’ve had our back against the wall before,” Cunningham said. “At the end of the day, if we can’t win a game on the road, how far are we really going to get? We’ve got to go win a game.”
--> Detroit Pistons lose grip on series after crushing late-game collapse vs. Cleveland