All-Star guard Cade Cunningham and the top-seeded Detroit Pistons have the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers on the ropes, holding a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon, when all of the pressure will be on the home team. The Cavaliers are 4-0 in their arena and 0-5 on the road this postseason.
“We had plenty of chances both games, but we just didn’t make shots,” Cavaliers guard James Harden said. “In the fourth quarter, we were either tied (in Game 1) or did go ahead (in Game 2). Our margin for error isn’t a large margin.
“It’s 2-0. They did what they did at home. We have to do the same.”
Cunningham has been the best player on the court in the first two games, averaging 24.0 points, 8.5 assists and a series-high 42 minutes while thoroughly outperforming fellow lead guard Harden. He also has made 17 of 19 free-throw attempts.
The likely soon-to-be All-NBA selection poured in 12 points in the final 5:47 of Game 2, single-handedly outscoring the Cavaliers by two as Detroit pulled out a 107-97 win Thursday. Harden managed a mere two points in 19 minutes in the second half.
“Our closer was a closer,” Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins said of Cunningham. “We know if we can do our job on the defensive end, he’s going to get us a good look. He’s an MVP candidate, for sure.”
Cunningham finished with 25 points, 10 assists, three rebounds and two blocked shots, earning chants of “MVP” as the clock wound down. He has scored 20-plus points in the first 15 playoff games of his career, the fourth-longest streak in league history, following the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Since trailing the Orlando Magic 3-1 and being on the brink of elimination in the first round, Detroit has rattled off five straight victories.
“We never lost composure,” Cunningham said. “We just stayed poised, stuck to our principles, stuck to our system and just turned up the energy a little bit. I enjoy winning. I just enjoy my team. I don’t want my season to end.”
Harden, meanwhile, used the phrase “for the betterment of the team” twice when asked about his lack of production after halftime, when he went 1-of-3 on field goal attempts and seldom dribbled the ball more than briefly.
“We’ve got to make James’ and Don’s job a little easier,” Cavaliers forward Dean Wade said. “That’s on all of us. We have to make the simple pass sometimes.”
Cleveland center Jarrett Allen agreed, saying, “Sometimes, I think we overthink things. And honestly, we haven’t been hitting shots this playoff, as well.”
Detroit’s suffocating half-court defense has been the primary reason for the latter, harassing the Cavaliers into missing their final 11 3-point attempts in Game 2. Cunningham and Duncan Robinson combined to go 4-of-6 beyond the arc for the Pistons in the fourth.
Swingman Robinson is shooting a scorching 58.8% on 3-pointers in the series, one year after being with the Miami Heat when they were swept by Cleveland in the first round.
“They did what they’re supposed to do and won two at home,” said Mitchell, who totaled 54 points in the two games in Detroit. “We’ll be fine. We’ll figure it out.”
Cavaliers small forward Sam Merrill (left hamstring strain) was hurt in the opener, missed Game 2 and is listed as questionable for Game 3, while Pistons shooting guard Kevin Huerter (left adductor strain) is doubtful for Saturday’s matchup and could miss the entire series.
