Pistons 122-119 Cavaliers: pistons win messy OT thriller
The Cavaliers lost 122-119 in overtime to the Pistons in an Eastern Conference showdown that grew chippier as the night went on. The pistons overcame a 10-minute horn delay, fan ejections and a half-court shooting foul to take the win.
Pistons overcome technical difficulties
The game featured an unusual sequence of events early and late: a 10-minute horn delay, multiple fan ejections and a half-court shooting foul, all of which added to a chaotic atmosphere that carried into overtime. The matchup was billed as an Eastern Conference showdown between two primary contenders and produced plenty of heat on and off the court.
Cavaliers entered shorthanded
Cleveland entered this matchup shorthanded. The injury report included Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Dean Wade and Keon Ellis, and Max Strus didn’t play either. This many key players being on the sideline could have resulted in a dull matchup, but the Cavs fought until the bitter end.
Cavs started with authority
The Cavaliers started the game with authority. It became clear immediately that this wasn’t going to be a cakewalk for the Pistons: Cleveland established itself defensively and continued to get just enough offensively to compete. The team’s early control kept the contest close through regulation and forced the extra period.
Dennis Schroder's heavy workload
Dennis Schroder has done a phenomenal job of raising the floor for Cleveland. He ran the pick-and-roll throughout the night and made sure the Cavaliers’ bigs stayed involved, acting as Cleveland’s only reliable ball handler for large stretches. His usage began to feel like a burden as Schroder eventually turned the ball over 8 times and shot 4-15, but his play was central to Cleveland staying competitive.
Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen impact
Evan Mobley had his best game since returning from a calf injury, finishing with 23 points and hitting 4-of-8 three-pointers. Mobley threw down several impressive dunks, including two separate one-hand jams over Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. He just couldn’t hit the game-tying shot at the buzzer. Jarrett Allen finished his strong February with 25 points and 9 rebounds on 10-12 shooting; he unfortunately fouled out late in the fourth quarter.
Craig Porter Jr. and late execution
Craig Porter Jr. relentlessly attacked the basket and found success dishing the ball to Cleveland’s bigs. Porter racked up 12 assists by the end of the night and has thrown 21 assists over his last two games. The Cavaliers simply didn’t execute down the stretch to close this one out, a key factor in the 122-119 overtime loss.
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The Cavs are now 37-24 and head to Brooklyn on Sunday.
