The Detroit Pistons remained on a roll as they opened their Eastern Conference semi-final series against the Cleveland Cavaliers with an impressive 111-101 win.
After hitting back from 3-1 down to beat the Orlando Magic in the first round, there was no stuttering start this time as the Pistons produced a solid all-round display.
Cade Cunningham scored 23 points, Tobias Harris added 20 and Duncan Robinson chipped in with 19, to the delight of coach JB Bickerstaff.
“Playing in three basically elimination games, you understand how important starts are, the urgency,” he said. “You understand how to close and how to finish. How to get to your spots. Then you grow belief that you can. That series did a lot of that for us.”
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Sloppy Harden hampers Cavs challenge
The Cavaliers’ hopes were hindered by 19 turnovers, including seven by James Harden.
“You look within first,” Harden said. “Look at my turnovers, and a lot of them are just on me and nothing they did. It was way too many. If I had to put my print on one thing in the game, that’s the game right there.
“Like we talked about last series. If you get a shot on glass, even half of that, and it’s a different ball game. For me, I got to be better. I will be better, not turning the basketball over and getting shots up. It gives our defense a chance to get back and be set. Other than that, we played a pretty solid game.”
Mitchell annoyed by lack of free-throw attempts
Harden did contribute 22 points, to go with 23 from Donovan Mitchell, who was again frustrated with the officiating after getting to the free throw line just twice, well down from his regular-season average of 6.1.
“I’m just not getting the calls. I don’t know why. I don’t flop, maybe that’s why,” Mitchell said. “And this isn’t just a tonight thing. This has been the entire series, and it’s frustrating a little bit, but because I’m such a dynamic driver, right? But I can’t control that. So if they’re not going to call it for me, I got to find a way to finish and do that.
“I’m not going to try to double down, but I mean, like, I feel like that’s what I got to do at this point. You know what I mean? Like I’m trying to get downhill, trying to get to the bucket, and sometimes my people are in my way and I’m trying to fight through contact and I’m not getting these calls.”
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