And just like that, we have a tied series. It seemed like the Detroit Pistons were able to shake off their jitters after coming back from a 1-3 deficit in the first round of the playoffs. Two convincing wins against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Round 2 had everyone convinced that Detroit would cruise its way into the Eastern Conference Finals. All they needed was one win on the road. That way, they would come back to their home court with a chance to close out the series.
Instead, the Pistons' inexperience showed up yet again. The Pistons' comeback bid fell short in Game 3, but there was hope that Detroit could get another win on the road. Instead, Detroit floundered in Game 4, losing 112-103 in a game that was not as close as the final score suggested.
Who are the culprits behind the Pistons' loss in Game 4? Let's take a look.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) grabs the rebound over Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) in the second half during game one of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena.
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Jalen Duren has been the most criticized player during the Pistons' playoff run, and for good reason. This season, Duren broke out as an All-Star-caliber forward who uses his physical tools to overwhelm their opponents. He finished the regular season with a double-double of 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and nearly a steal and a block per game.
In the playoffs, though, Duren has been largely invisible. He was a key reason why the Pistons went down 1-3 in the first round, failing to make an impact against the Orlando Magic's frontcourt. It seemed like after Game 1 of the Cavs series, the All-Star forward had shaken off the jitters and would dominate the rest of the series.
Instead, Duren reverted to his previous form. In Game 4, the Pistons forward was a complete non-factor. He scored just eight points, but more importantly, Duren only grabbed two rebounds. Duren at least had two steals and a block, but he looked completely lost on offense. The Pistons need their star center to do more work in Game 5 if they want to preserve their advantage.
May 5, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) is defended by Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) in the second half during game one of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
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It's pretty clear that Ausar Thompson is a limited player at this point in his career. His three-point shooting is not up to par yet, which allows teams to scheme their defense to take advantage of that. However, Thompson's calling card is his elite athleticism and his defense, which allows him to stay on the floor far longer in the playoffs than other players who don't shoot well from the outside.
In Game 4, though, Thompson was diced up to hell and back by Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell drew a lot of fouls, yes, but it also looked a bit like the star guard had finally figured out how to attack the young defensive forward. To make matters worse, Thompson was a complete negative on offense, attempting just three shots and committing four turnovers. That's simply unacceptable in a postseason setting.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first quarter of game three in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Speaking of turnovers and inefficiency, Cade Cunningham didn't have his best game as a Piston in Game 4. The Pistons forward finished with a respectable score line on paper: 19 points, six assists, and three boards is a good stat line to have. Cunningham was the engine that was desperately trying to keep Detroit afloat in the game.
That being said… Cunningham was also a big reason why the Pistons were sinking in Game 4 in the first place. The All-Star guard committed five turnovers during the game. His decision-making was also a huge question mark during the game, his timing just a bit off. While turnovers are a natural part of the game for a primary ball-handler, it's also something that Cunningham needs to be better at and try to limit.
Game 5 will be played back in Detroit on Wednesday.
And just like that, we have a tied series. It seemed like the Detroit Pistons were able to shake off their jitters after coming back from a 1-3 deficit in the first round of the playoffs. Two convincing wins against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Round 2 had everyone convinced that Detroit would cruise its way into the Eastern Conference Finals.