Cavaliers 112, Pistons 103: Mitchell’s 43 ties series

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 112-103 on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Rocket Arena, with Donovan Mitchell leading all scorers with 43 points as Cleveland erased a halftime deficit and evened this NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series at 2-2.

Quarter-by-quarter breakdown

First quarter: Detroit took an early 24-21 lead by controlling the pace and getting efficient offense in the half court. Cleveland stayed close, but the Pistons were a little sharper in their first-wave execution and carried a three-point edge into the second.

Second quarter: The Pistons added to their advantage with a 32-31 period and went into halftime up 56-52. Detroit continued to score efficiently, finishing the first half with steady shot-making, while Cleveland kept contact behind Mitchell and timely playmaking.

Third quarter: This was the turning point. Cleveland outscored Detroit 38-21 in the period, flipping a four-point halftime deficit into a 90-77 lead entering the fourth. The Cavaliers tightened up defensively, got to the foul line, and found the offensive burst that had been missing earlier in the night.

Fourth quarter: Detroit won the final period 26-22, but Cleveland had already built enough separation. The Pistons made a push, yet the Cavaliers held off the late pressure with free throws and composed half-court possessions to close out the nine-point win.

Key performers

Cleveland Cavaliers:
Donovan Mitchell delivered the defining performance of the game with 43 points, setting the tone for Cleveland’s second-half turnaround. James Harden added control as a facilitator with 11 assists, helping organize the Cavaliers once they took command in the third quarter. Evan Mobley led the team with eight rebounds.

Detroit Pistons:
Caris LeVert paced Detroit with 24 points, while Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with six assists. Tobias Harris grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Detroit shot 50.6% from the field and 43.5% from three, but the gap at the free-throw line proved costly.

NerdSports Stat: Cleveland won by nine despite being outshot from the field 50.6% to 43.6%, largely because the Cavaliers made 21 more free throws than the Pistons, 30-9.

Game analysis

The box score tells an unusual story. Detroit was the more efficient shooting team, making 42 of 83 shots and 10 of 23 from deep. Cleveland, meanwhile, shot 34 of 78 overall and 14 of 41 from three. But the Cavaliers made up that difference by repeatedly getting to the line, finishing 30-of-34 on free throws compared with Detroit’s 9-of-12.

That advantage became even more important during the third quarter, when Cleveland changed the game with sharper defensive possessions and more direct offense. The Cavaliers did a better job of turning Mitchell’s creation into pressure on the rim and fouls, while also limiting the quality of Detroit’s looks during that stretch.

Cleveland also matched Detroit in assists at 23, which reflects how balanced the offense became after halftime. Harden’s 11 assists gave the Cavaliers structure, and Mitchell’s scoring gave them the top-end production necessary in a playoff swing game. For Detroit, the late response in the fourth quarter showed composure, but the third-quarter drop-off was too much to overcome on the road.

Closing context

With the win, the Cavaliers tied the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-2 in Game 4. Cleveland improved to 52-30 overall this season, while Detroit, which finished the regular season 60-22, missed a chance to take a 3-1 series lead. The series now shifts forward as both teams head into a pivotal Game 5 with momentum reset.

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