The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled even in the Eastern Conference semifinals, defeating the Detroit Pistons 112-103 at home on May 12 to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2. Donovan Mitchell erupted for 43 points, while James Harden contributed 24 points and 11 assists, making him the only player to record a double-double in the game. Their stellar performances kept the series competitive and extended the drama.
Unlike the dominant Western Conference favorite Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pistons, despite being the top seed in the East, have not shown overwhelming superiority. After narrowly escaping a first-round upset against the Magic in a seven-game series, Detroit won the first two games at home. However, Cleveland responded with two consecutive victories at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, with Mitchell and Harden leading the charge. In Game 4, the duo elevated their game even further, leaving the Pistons unable to contain them.
The Pistons held a slim 4-point lead at halftime, with Mitchell scoring only 4 points in the first two quarters, showing no signs of an impending explosion. But the second half was a different story. Early in the third quarter, Detroit went scoreless for an extended stretch, and Mitchell suddenly took over, scoring 16 consecutive points to ignite a 23-0 run that stunned the Pistons. He added five more points later in the quarter, finishing with 21 points in the period alone.
Mitchell tied a franchise record for most points in a playoff quarter, a mark previously held by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. He also matched a historic feat by recording his fifth career playoff quarter with 20-plus points, tying Stephen Curry and Jamal Murray for the most in NBA history.
In the fourth quarter, Mitchell scored eight more points to help the Cavs build a 21-point lead. Although Pistons star Cade Cunningham led a furious comeback, cutting the deficit to single digits, Mitchell’s second-half eruption had already sealed the outcome. He finished with 39 points in the second half alone, setting a new Cavaliers record for most points in a playoff half.
Beyond Mitchell’s heroics, Harden orchestrated the offense with precision, dishing out 11 assists while scoring 24 points. Notably, he did not grab a single rebound, perhaps focusing on playmaking. With this performance, Harden surpassed 4,100 career playoff points, moving to 11th on the all-time list. He also played his 184th postseason game (15th all-time) and moved past Shaquille O’Neal in career playoff free throws made, now ranking eighth.
The series now shifts back to Detroit for Game 5, with both teams tied and the Cavaliers having regained home-court advantage thanks to their two wins in Cleveland.