Pistons take 2-0 series lead over Cavs thanks to defense and sharp 3-point shooting: Takeaways
nytimes.com • • general
Key Points:
- The Detroit Pistons took a 2-0 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 107-97 victory in Game 2, fueled by Cade Cunningham's 25-point double-double and Tobias Harris's 21 points.
- Detroit's strong defense limited Cleveland's offense beyond Donovan Mitchell, who scored 31 points, while the Cavaliers struggled with poor three-point shooting (22%) and untimely defensive stops.
- The Pistons excelled from long range, hitting 14 of 28 three-pointers, led by Duncan Robinson's five made threes, showcasing a key factor in their postseason success.
- Despite improvements such as fewer turnovers and a strong performance from Mitchell, Cleveland's inability to defend the three-point line and James Harden's poor shooting night contributed to their loss.
- The series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3, where the Cavaliers must win to avoid a 3-0 deficit, a hole no NBA team has ever overcome in the playoffs.
