Pistons fold late in Game 5 OT heartbreaker to James Harden, Cavaliers
Cade Cunningham scored 39 points, but Detroit Pistons gave up nine straight to end regulation and couldn't overcome James Harden and Cavs in Game 5.
The Detroit Pistons could taste a win, which would have put them one victory from the conference finals after a frenetic fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers . But the Cavs used a 9-0 run to close regulation, then scored the first four points of overtime and held off the Pistons on Wednesday, May 13, for a 117-113 victory in Game 5 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The 4-seed Cavs now have a 3-2 series lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals, winning three in a row.
They can close out the 1-seed Pistons in Game 6 on Friday night in Cleveland. Cade Cunningham scored a game-high 39 points. The Pistons were on the wrong side of a controversial no-call to end regulation, when Ausar Thompson appeared to be tripped going for a loose ball by Jarrett Allen.
The Cavs were over the foul limit, and Thompson would have shot free throws with roughly a second left. He made two free throws earlier in the quarter. TRENDING: Was Ausar Thompson tripped by Jarrett Allen to end 4th?
You decide James Harden led the Cavs with 30 points and Max Strus hit six 3s off the bench for 20 points with eight rebounds. Donovan Mitchell was limited to 21 points on 7-for-18 shooting. He hit his only 3-pointer in overtime from the right corner.