The Cleveland Cavaliers needed everything James Harden had left in him. Down nine with two minutes to play, staring at a 3-2 deficit in the Eastern Conference semifinals, they got it. Harden finished with 30 points – his best of these playoffs – to lift Cleveland to a 117-113 overtime win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 5, giving the Cavs a 3-2 series lead.
Harden’s clutch run, Cade’s 39-point masterpiece in defeat
Detroit led 103-94 with 2:10 left in regulation. Then Harden happened. He orchestrated a 9-0 run that tied the game, forcing overtime, and Cleveland never let go in the extra period – going on a 13-0 run while holding Detroit scoreless for five straight minutes. On the other end, Cade Cunningham (39 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds) gave everything in a losing effort, pouring in his best performance of the series on a night the scoreboard refused to cooperate.
Donovan Mitchell added 21 points and Max Strus contributed 20, but this night belonged to Harden’s veteran poise in the moments that mattered.
The no-call that ignited Detroit
Regulation’s final seconds came with a controversy that will follow this series. With the score tied and time expiring, Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen and Detroit’s Ausar Thompson became entangled fighting for a loose ball – and the officials swallowed their whistles. No call. Overtime. “He fouled Ausar – clearly,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters after the game. “He tripped him when he was going for a loose ball.”
The NBA officiating department had no immediate comment.
Series outlook: Cavs one win from the East Finals
Cleveland travels back home for Game 6 on Friday night, needing one win to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks – who swept their second-round series. Detroit, meanwhile, must win two straight to extend its breakout postseason run. Cunningham, at just 24 years old, has shown he belongs in these moments. Whether it is enough to overcome a Cavaliers team that has now recovered from a 1-2 series deficit remains the question.
Sources: ESPN Game Recap, NBA.com
