The Cleveland Cavaliers have managed to level their second-round playoff series, thanks to a remarkable performance by Donovan Mitchell in the second half of their latest game. Mitchell’s explosive scoring helped secure a 112-103 victory against the Detroit Pistons, sending the series back to Detroit for a pivotal Game 5.
Mitchell, who tied an NBA playoff record by scoring 39 points in the final two quarters, was instrumental in the Cavaliers’ win. “What a shift, right? Really struggled in the first half and then big-time, second-half performance by Don,” remarked Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson.
As the series stands tied at 2-2, the home teams have consistently prevailed in all four games. Mitchell matched Eric “Sleepy” Floyd’s record, set in 1987, with a crucial free throw in the closing seconds, although he narrowly missed breaking it with a second attempt.
“Everybody let me know that I missed a free throw to break the record, though,” said Mitchell, who finished with a total of 43 points. “I will say that, but we’re two and two headed to Detroit. That was what we came home to do and that’s all that matters.”
Alongside Mitchell’s heroics, James Harden contributed significantly with a playoff double-double, scoring 24 points and providing 11 assists. Evan Mobley added 17 points, maintaining Cleveland’s perfect home record in the playoffs this season.
For Detroit, Caris LeVert had a standout performance, scoring a season-high 24 points. Cade Cunningham, who has been a consistent scorer this postseason, was held to 19 points, while Tobias Harris chipped in with 16.
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff expressed concern over the free throw discrepancy, noting that Mitchell alone had more attempts from the line than the entire Detroit team. “There is no way one guy on their team should have more free throws than our team. We’re not a settling for jump shots team,” he stated. “We didn’t do enough to help ourselves, but ever since we came to Cleveland, the whistle has changed.”
Despite a difficult first half, where the Cavaliers struggled with a 15 of 38 shooting performance, they were able to stay within striking distance, trailing 56-52 at halftime. Atkinson urged his team to increase their pace and attack more directly, which paid off as Mitchell spearheaded a 24-0 run.
This impressive streak extended from the last seconds of the first half into the third quarter, marking the longest such run in an NBA playoff game since Minnesota’s similar feat in 2024. For the Cavaliers, it was their longest postseason run since records began in 1997-98.
“When (Mitchell) sees a gap, he’s going to go. We’ve got to eliminate his touches and catches on the run,” commented Cunningham. “That run, we just never caught our footing again. That was the first time they really got loose in the series.”
Mitchell and Harden combined for a stunning 49 points, including points from assists, highlighting their critical roles in the game. Mobley’s all-around performance, featuring eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, and five blocks, also drew praise from Atkinson. “Don’s going to get all the flowers, but we should give a lot of flowers to Mobley for tonight’s performance,” he said.
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