Cavaliers Edge Pistons 117-113 in OT, Take 3-2 Lead

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, moving ahead 3-2 in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. James Harden led Cleveland with 30 points, while Cade Cunningham kept Detroit close with a game-high 39 points in a high-pressure Game 5 at Little Caesars Arena.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Detroit started well at home and took a 29-27 lead after one quarter. The Pistons found steady offense early, with Cunningham setting the tone as Detroit created quality looks and kept Cleveland from controlling the pace in the opening 12 minutes.

Second Quarter

The Pistons added to their advantage in the second, outscoring the Cavaliers 31-25 to take a 60-52 lead into halftime. Detroit moved the ball effectively and continued to get production from its lead guard, while Cleveland had trouble stringing together enough stops to trim the margin before the break.

Third Quarter

The game changed in the third. Cleveland responded with its best stretch of the night, outscoring Detroit 32-20 to erase the halftime deficit and move in front 84-80 entering the fourth. The Cavaliers tightened up defensively, improved their shot quality, and used that swing to take control of the momentum.

Fourth Quarter

Detroit answered in the fourth and outscored Cleveland 23-19, forcing overtime after closing regulation level at 103-103. The Pistons did enough to extend the game, but the Cavaliers stayed composed and gave themselves another five minutes to finish the comeback.

Overtime

In overtime, Cleveland delivered the cleaner closing stretch and outscored Detroit 14-10. The Cavaliers made enough plays from the line and from the perimeter to hold off the Pistons, completing the 117-113 road win in one of the more tightly contested games of the series.

Key Performers

James Harden, Cavaliers: 30 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks. Harden led Cleveland in scoring and gave the visitors a steady offensive presence across regulation and overtime.

Evan Mobley, Cavaliers: Mobley paced Cleveland with 8 assists, a strong sign of how involved he was in the Cavaliers’ half-court offense during their second-half recovery.

Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers: Allen finished with 10 rebounds, helping Cleveland to a 44-40 edge on the glass.

Cade Cunningham, Pistons: Cunningham was the top scorer in the game with 39 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. He carried a major share of Detroit’s offense and nearly pushed the Pistons to a series-tying win.

Paul Reed, Pistons: Reed led Detroit with 8 rebounds as the Pistons stayed competitive on the interior despite Cleveland’s overall rebounding advantage.

NerdSports Stat: Detroit led by eight at halftime and still had a 39-point scorer with 9 assists, but Cleveland overcame that by making 13 more free throws and five more three-pointers, a 28-point swing from those two areas alone.

Game Analysis

This game turned on efficiency and shot value. Detroit actually made more field goals than Cleveland, 42 to 36, and also finished with more assists, 28 to 25. But Cleveland made up that difference at the foul line and from three-point range. The Cavaliers went 31-for-38 on free throws, while Detroit was 18-for-20. Cleveland also hit 14 three-pointers to Detroit’s 11 and posted the better percentage from deep, 40.0% to 33.3%.

The third quarter was the clearest shift in the game. After trailing by eight at halftime, Cleveland found a different level on both ends and used a 32-20 period to reset the matchup. That stretch gave the Cavaliers the platform they needed, and even though Detroit responded in the fourth, Cleveland’s late execution in overtime proved decisive.

For the Pistons, Cunningham’s production was good enough to win on many nights. Detroit also got to 113 points despite average three-point efficiency and remained within reach all game. Still, the Cavaliers were a little sharper in the areas that often decide playoff games: free throws, late-game composure, and extra-possession value through rebounding.

Closing Context

With the win, Cleveland now leads the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series 3-2 and is one victory away from advancing. The Cavaliers also improved their playoff standing in this matchup by taking a difficult road game in Detroit. The Pistons return to the next game facing elimination after letting an eight-point halftime lead slip away at home.

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