This Eastern Conference semifinal series has taken a dramatic turn, now tied 2-2 as the action shifts back to Detroit with a completely different feel than when the teams left.
The Cleveland Cavaliers roared back, claiming a decisive victory over the Pistons in Game 4. The contest was blown open in the third quarter, not just by a run, but by an overwhelming offensive assault. Cleveland scored 22 consecutive points to start the third period before Detroit finally responded, effectively ending the game.
With home teams holding serve in the first four games, this best-of-seven now becomes a best-of-three. In these situations, star players typically dictate the outcome, and Donovan Mitchell currently holds a clear edge over Cade Cunningham. Mitchell’s Game 4 eruption was explosive, while Cunningham’s response was woefully inadequate.
**1. Mitchell’s Resurgence**
Mitchell has a history of playoff brilliance, notably during his time with the Utah Jazz, especially in the bubble series against Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets. But this performance ranks among the best. It marked his eighth career 40-point playoff game, arriving at a critical moment for the Cavaliers and injecting Cleveland with confidence for the remainder of the series.
Mitchell was unstoppable on this day, and as a result, the Cavaliers were unstoppable. He did exactly what a superstar is supposed to do: save his team in a moment of crisis and carry his teammates when necessary.
His 21 points in the third quarter matched the Pistons’ entire team output in that period. His 39 points in the second half were like a tornado, leaving Detroit helpless. The Pistons tried various defensive schemes and different defenders, but nothing worked. Mitchell either attacked the rim directly or used pump fakes to throw defenders off balance.
How should we view his 43 points? It stands as the best individual performance of the series so far. Mitchell raised the bar for himself, Cade Cunningham, and anyone else aiming to match him. If Mitchell continues at this pace, Detroit will find it extremely difficult to prevent Cleveland from advancing to the conference finals.
His free throw attempts (15) exceeded the entire Pistons team total (12). That’s a staggering fact for Detroit. It’s also hard to recall that he scored only 4 points in the entire first half.
But as the saying goes, it’s not how you start, but how you finish. “Incredible performance, what a turnaround,” Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said.
**2. Duren’s Disappearance**
Except for a few stretches in the first two games in Detroit, Jalen Duren has struggled mightily. He hasn’t found any offensive rhythm throughout this series—really throughout the entire playoffs. In Game 4, he was physically dominated by the Cavaliers and especially Evan Mobley, who recorded 5 blocks and 3 steals, looking like the player who won Defensive Player of the Year last season. Along with Jarrett Allen, the Cavs won every key physical battle against the more athletic Pistons.
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff may need to make a decision for Game 5. If Duren delivers another poor performance—8 points, 4 turnovers, and an inexplicable 2 rebounds in 26 minutes—could he be replaced by Paul Reed?
For the second straight game, Reed has been the better option. This might seem like a drastic move, replacing a former All-Star with a role player. But Reed, who has made 11 of his last 13 shots over the past two games, deserves more playing time.
As for Duren, this represents a significant drop-off from his solid regular season, where he was a force on both ends. His playoff scoring average has dropped by a full 10 points. Something is missing. In these two games in Cleveland, Mobley was the clearly superior big man.
**3. Harden’s Resurgence**
In a seven-game series, momentum can shift quickly, sometimes within a single game. That’s why it was premature to write off James Harden after two poor games in Detroit, even given his sometimes inconsistent playoff history.
As it turns out, Harden looks just fine. For the second consecutive game, he posed a major problem for the Pistons. He recorded his first double-digit assist game of the series (11) along with 3 steals, looking much more comfortable with the ball. Harden not only drew contact (9-for-9 from the free-throw line) but also relished isolation challenges, finishing with 24 points and keeping Detroit’s defense on high alert.
This was the best performance of the series from the Harden-Mitchell backcourt. Both were highly productive and efficient, and they appeared to be in sync, especially during the third quarter. This is exactly the vision Cleveland had when they traded for Harden mid-season.
**4. Cunningham’s Fatigue**
When Cunningham is inefficient and turnover-prone, it raises legitimate questions about whether he’s carrying too heavy a load. Or perhaps he’s simply in a slump. Either way, his performance was surprisingly ineffective, and when that happens, the scales tip against Detroit.
Cleveland’s defense on him was outstanding. The Cavs forced him to work hard and executed double-teams at the perfect moments, forcing Cunningham to make quick decisions. Mitchell and Dean Wade were particularly solid when defending him directly. As a result, his turnovers (5) nearly matched his assists (6). The Cavaliers would gladly accept that ratio every day; given Cunningham’s importance to Detroit’s offensive flow, this statistic hurts the Pistons.
The most telling moment was an 8-second violation in the third quarter, when he was trapped by Max Strus while dribbling up the court. Cunningham inexplicably lost his sense of court awareness. That rare mistake was a microcosm of his game—and a summary of his team’s experience in Cleveland. (NBA.com)