This Eastern Conference Semifinal series heads to Cleveland. The Pistons hold a 2-0 series lead. Game 3’s are rarely a “must win” situation, but in this series that seems almost accurate. Through two games, the Pistons have been the better, more disciplined team.
Detroit is winning the turnover battle, and Cleveland is shooting entirely too many three point shots considering how few they make. Many of the turnovers are not forced turnovers by Detroit. Cleveland is simply committing bad unforced turnovers at critical moments in games.
Analytics dictates that a high volume of threes leads to more wins. However, in Game 2, Cleveland made only 7 of 32. In Game 2 Cleveland shot 22% while Detroit shot 50% (14 of 28). Live by the three, die by the three only works if a team shoots above a certain percentage.
Detroit seems to have an answer for everything Cleveland throws at them. Cleveland also has not been able to contain Cade Cunningham at any of phase of the game through the first two.
The Cavs must get more volume scoring from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. If Cleveland can get what is expected from Mitchell, Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen they can make this a series. However, they have yet to do that in this series.
NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live scores | Full schedule | Updated bracket
Cavaliers vs. Pistons live updates, highlights from NBA playoffs Game 3
3rd Quarter-4:04: Paul Reed makes a 2-foot dunk. DET is on an 11-2 run
3rd Quarter-4:25: Jarrett Allen makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-5:33: Ausar Thompson makes a 21-foot jumper.
3rd Quarter-6:10: Ausar Thompson makes a 1-foot layup.
3rd Quarter-6:27: Cade Cunningham makes two-point shot.
3rd Quarter-6:56: Max Struss makes a 26-foot three-point jumper.
No dribble, just shoot. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/07CAyP2GOl
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
3rd Quarter-7:23: Tobias Harris makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-9:12: James Harden makes a 6-foot shot.
3rd Quarter-9:59: Ausar Thompson makes a two-point shot.
3rd Quarter-11:14: Donovan Mitchell makes a 10-foot turnaround jumper.
3rd Quarter-11:22: Jalen Duren makes a layup.
1st Half Team Stats
| DET | CLE | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 18-48 | 24-35 |
| Field Goal % | 38 | 69 |
| 3PT | 2-14 | 7-13 |
| Three Point % | 14 | 54 |
| FT | 10-14 | 9-16 |
| Free Throw % | 71 | 56 |
| Rebounds | 21 | 17 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 12 | 1 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 9 | 16 |
| Assists | 9 | 14 |
| Steals | 7 | 0 |
| Blocks | 2 | 5 |
| Total Turnovers | 9 | 8 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 13 | 8 |
| Fast Break Points | 6 | 4 |
| Points in Paint | 32 | 28 |
| Fouls | 15 | 10 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 7 | 16 |
| Percent Led | 33 | 61 |
The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Detroit Pistons 64-48 at the half.
Donovan Mitchell is the 4th youngest active player to reach 2,000 playoff points, behind only Lebron James, Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic.
AT THE HALF.
📊 HIGHLIGHTS & STATS: https://t.co/j7tJuz3jPG@Redfin | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/njqGnKx0Mt
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
2nd Quarter-0:11: Evan Mobley makes a driving dunk. Cleveland has built a 16-point lead.
2nd Quarter-0:27: Isaiah Stewart makes a 1-foot layup.
2nd Quarter-1:24: Donovan Mitchell makes a 1-foot two-point shot.
2nd Quarter-2:26: Jalen Duren makes a dunk.
2nd Quarter-2:40: Jarrett Allen makes a 1-foot dunk.
🛸 UFO: Unidentified Fro-ing Object.@_bigjayy_ | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/4gnGcVgAG9
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
DON’T MESS WITH FROHIO. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/2r7SbYb7qO
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
2nd Quarter-3:00: Donovan Mitchell makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
YOU CALL HIM, HE’S THERE.
YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDAAAAAAAAAA.@spidadmitchell | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/tdKgbooK72
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
2nd Quarter-3:26: Duncan Robinson makes a running dunk.
2nd Quarter-4:01: Cade Cunningham makes a 13-foot fade away jump shot.
2nd Quarter-4:25: Evan Mobley makes a dunk.
FIGHT FOR THE BOARD.
THROW IT DOWN.
Evan Mobley bringing the ENERGY in Game 3… Cavs bench is loving it 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/qWYbgKwxJL
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2026
2nd Quarter-4:29: James Harden makes a 22-foot three-point shot.
They got a draw 4 card in UNO yet?@JHarden13 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/Ztja8lIHwy
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
2nd Quarter-4:58: Evan Mobley makes a 3-foot alley oop dunk, assisted by Mitchell.
The dunk before the other dunk that just happened because he’s just out here dunking.@evanmobley | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/dGklkpNble
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
2nd Quarter-5:05: Cade Cunningham makes a tip shot.
2nd Quarter-6:22: Jalen Duren makes a driving dunk.
JD with the poster‼️ pic.twitter.com/Vazz1t936S
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 9, 2026
2nd Quarter-6:39: Sam Merrill makes a 20-foot step back jumper. That gives CLE a 9-point lead, the largest CLE lead in the series.
GO SAM GO.@smerrill05 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/8YCH4zPUvF
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
2nd Quarter-7:38: Dean Wade makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
SEEING IN 3DEAN.@deanwade3232 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/cRLloRhZju
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
2nd Quarter-8:08: Donovan Mitchell makes a 10-foot shot.
2nd Quarter-8:23: Daniss Jenkins makes a layup.
2nd Quarter-10:52: Donovan Mitchell makes a 2-foot dunk.
Got that SPIDA SAUCE.@spidadmitchell | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/kVRoKaCuLm
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
Playoff SPIDA. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/TmsE9zd6lJ
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
1st Quarter Team Stats
| DET | CLE | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 11-24 | 13-18 |
| Field Goal % | 46 | 72 |
| 3PT | 2-5 | 4-7 |
| Three Point % | 40 | 57 |
| FT | 6-8 | 2-3 |
| Free Throw % | 75 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 10 | 7 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 6 | 0 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 4 | 7 |
| Assists | 5 | 10 |
| Steals | 5 | 0 |
| Blocks | 1 | 4 |
| Total Turnovers | 4 | 6 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 7 | 8 |
| Fast Break Points | 4 | 2 |
| Points in Paint | 18 | 16 |
| Fouls | 3 | 4 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 7 | 3 |
| Percent Led | 65 | 22 |
The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Detroit Pistons 32-30 at the end of the 1st quarter.
1st Quarter-0:05: Evan Mobley blocked Cade Cunningham on a 5-foot shot. With that block, Evan Mobley is now 5th all time in playoff blocks in Cavaliers team history.
1st Quarter-0:29: Donovan Mitchell makes a 23-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-1:16: Dennis Schroder makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-1:38: Cade Cunningham makes a layup.
1st Quarter-2:27: Caris Levert makes a running dunk.
LeVert workin’ early on both ends 😤 pic.twitter.com/PCksouDjua
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 9, 2026
1st Quarter-2:44: James Harden makes driving floater.
1st Quarter-3:18: Dennis Schroder makes a driving layup.
1st Quarter-3:30: Isaiah Stewart makes a dunk.
1st Quarter-3:46: Jarrett Allen makes a 4-foot hook shot.
1st Quarter-4:04: Tobias Harris makes a 6-foot turnaround jumper.
1st Quarter-5:08: Jarrett Allen makes a 2-foot shot.
1st Quarter-5:39: Dennis Schroder makes a 22-foot three-point shot.
IT’S A HIGHLIGHT.@DS17_FG | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/SQ0JHIfmL6
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
1st Quarter-6:26: Jarrett Allen makes a 2-foot layup.
1st Quarter-6:43: Jalen Duren makes an alley oop dunk, Cunningham assisted.
1st Quarter-7:26: Jarrett Allen makes a dunk.
Float it to the Fro and he’ll be ON THE GO.@_bigjayy_ | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/zs2AHlhMhS
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
1st Quarter-7:53: Donovan Mitchell makes a driving layup.
1st Quarter-8:05: Ausar Thompson makes a 12-foot shot.
1st Quarter-8:31: Donovan Mitchell makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
Spida is 3-4 early in Game 3 on NBC & Peacock! pic.twitter.com/H32jh6CkrJ
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2026
1st Quarter-9:32: Tobias Harris makes a driving layup.
1st Quarter-10:20: Cade Cunningham makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-10:45: James Harden makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
Start off with a step back!@JHarden13 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/M1hJCIkXiE
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
1st Quarter-11:14: Donovan Mitchell makes a running layup.
1st Quarter-11:43: Duncan Robinson makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
One game at a time. pic.twitter.com/eJGFGsJA2u
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 9, 2026
Tell a friend to tell a friend…
HE’S BACK. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/wJWKYcIa8e
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
Detroit traveled:
DEEETROIT BASKETBALL 🗣️
Pistons fans showing out in Cleveland! pic.twitter.com/iXBlrTmwRV
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 9, 2026
We’ll see if James Harden in the ‘pink lemonade’ will render a better result in Game 3
HARDEN V10: PINK LEMONADE.@adidasHoops /// #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/VejIMlBToN
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026