The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons meet on Wednesday night in an important Game 5 matchup. Both teams are tied 2-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinal series with one team on the verge of elimination and the other on the verge of moving on. That’s what’s at stake in the Motor City.
Donovan Mitchell has led the Cavs by notching 43 points in Game 4. He has been the answer Cleveland has needed down the stretch in this series. Especially when James Harden hasn’t played his best. The Cavs haven’t won away from Cleveland in the playoffs and that must stop tonight to advance.
Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff will have to find the right pace in his lineup to keep the Cavs from jumping out to a huge lead. Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris can’t do it all and the rest of Detroit’s starting five will have to step up.
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Cavaliers vs. Pistons live updates, highlights from NBA playoffs Game 5
3rd Quarter-9:22: James Harden makes a 27-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-10:01: Jalen Duren makes a 4-foot dunk.
3rd Quarter-10:54: Jarrett Allen makes a layup.
1st Half Team Stats
| CLE | DET | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 18-33 | 24-46 |
| Field Goal % | 55 | 52 |
| 3PT | 6-14 | 6-14 |
| Three Point % | 43 | 43 |
| FT | 10-12 | 6-7 |
| Free Throw % | 83 | 86 |
| Rebounds | 16 | 14 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 1 | 4 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 15 | 10 |
| Assists | 11 | 17 |
| Steals | 3 | 8 |
| Blocks | 3 | 2 |
| Total Turnovers | 10 | 6 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 20 | 2 |
| Fast Break Points | 7 | 16 |
| Points in Paint | 22 | 26 |
| Fouls | 4 | 8 |
| Technical Fouls | 2 | 1 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 3 | 15 |
| Percent Led | 7 | 86 |
The Detroit Pistons lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 60-52 at halftime
2nd Quarter-0:27: Max Strus makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-1:07: Donovan Mitchell makes a 9-foot driving floater.
2nd Quarter-1:58: Max Strus makes a 23-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-2:54: James Harden makes a 23-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-3:11: Caris Levert makes a 10-foot pull up jumper.
2nd Quarter-4:28: Daniss Jenkins makes a 12-foot two-point shot.
2nd Quarter-4:52: Jarrett Allen makes a finger roll layup.
2nd Quarter-5:23: James Harden makes a 20-foot step back jumper.
This stepback is nasty. @JHarden13 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/cOgf1OLRGW
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 14, 2026
2nd Quarter-6:48: Ausar Thompson makes a 4-foot alley oop dunk.
#DetroitBasketball in full effect‼️ pic.twitter.com/fn4KztooNr
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 14, 2026
2nd Quarter-8:33: Tobias Harris makes a 7-foot fade away jumper.
2nd Quarter-9:56: Tobias Harris makes an 8-foot floater.
2nd Quarter-10:12: Donovan Mitchell makes an 8-foot floater.
2nd Quarter-10:24: Tobias Harris makes a driving layup.
2nd Quarter-10:52: Cade Cunningham makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-11:27: Cade Cunningham makes a 10-foot pull up jumper.
2nd Quarter-11:46: Evan Mobley makes a 7-foot shot.
What Up Doe, @Eminem! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/CNXYECEZV8
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 14, 2026
The Detroit Pistons lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 29-27 after the 1st quarter
1st Quarter-0:16: Donovan Mitchell makes a 5-foot shot.
1st Quarter-1:13: Isaiah Stewart makes a 26-foot three point shot.
1st Quarter-1:38: Isaiah Stewart makes a 26-foot three-point jumper.
1st Quarter-1:53: Max Strus makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
🪣 Strus & Sam: SPLASH. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/3NoClWrh4x
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 14, 2026
1st Quarter-2:55: Dennis Schroder makes a two-point shot.
1st Quarter-3:23: Sam Merrill makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-4:22: Cade Cunningham makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-5:23: Max Strus makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-7:07: Evan Mobley makes a 3-foot running dunk.
75 feet. On the money. @JHarden13 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/TnSvGAq6Vf
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 14, 2026
1st Quarter-7:49: Ausar Thompson makes a 4-foot running dunk.
1st Quarter-8:21: James Harden makes a 6-foot floater.
1st Quarter-9:19: Jarrett Allen makes a 3-foot dunk.
Big ➡️ big. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/s4FQkcYHey
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 14, 2026
1st Quarter-10:43: Daniss Jenkins makes a 20-foot running jumper.
1st Quarter-11:43: Daniss Jenkins makes a 23-foot three-point shot.
WHATUPDOE DANISS pic.twitter.com/yT557YLbkw
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 14, 2026
Donovan Mitchell scored 39 of his 43 points in the second half to secure Cleveland’s Game 4 win 🔥
Can he he pull off another stellar performance tonight?
CLE (2-2) DET I Game 5: 8:00 PM ET, ESPN pic.twitter.com/8qFt1lKrQK
— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2026
“Pistons will take care of business tonight.” 🔥
Lou Williams & Chandler Parsons pick Detroit to win Game 5 🗣️
Michelle Beadle is “sick of being jerked around by the Cavs” 😅@MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/zjTBVmglxO
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) May 13, 2026
Pistons or Cavs? 🤔
The crew weighs in on the 2-2 series 🏀 pic.twitter.com/lxCFHhk9Mi
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 12, 2026