In a playoff run with a lot of losses for the Detroit Pistons, this one might sting the most. Detroit had to protect their home court against the Cleveland Cavaliers after losing two straight road games. It looked like the home team was well on track to do just that, leading by nine points late in the final quarter. They would, at the very least, get two chances to close out the series.
Except, well, the Pistons collapsed. There's no other way to describe what happened to the team. James Harden, Max Strus, and Evan Mobley's combined efforts late in the game proved essential to their comeback bid, forcing overtime against Detroit. The Cavaliers' momentum propelled them to an easy 117-113 in overtime, where they struck first and never looked back.
Yes, the Cavaliers played well late in the game, and they certainly earned that win. However, it's also fair to say that a couple of Pistons players contributed heavily to this loss. Let's look at the two culprits behind the Pistons' loss and how they affected the outcome of the game.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) grabs the rebound in the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena.
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Every time the Pistons lose, the blame seems to be focused on Jalen Duren. Most of the time, that blame is warranted.
The same thing can be said in Game 5 for Duren. After two straight duds against the Cavaliers' frontcourt, many were looking for the Pistons forward to fight back in Game 5. An All-Star forward who took significant strides this season, Duren was the one who should be helping Cade Cunningham out on offense. On paper, Duren should be able to impose his will against Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen with his physicality, right?
Instead, Duren has been consistently outplayed by both Mobley and Allen. The one thing that Duren has done well is pass out of the high post, but other than that, he's been a non-factor on offense. He's unable to create his own shots against the Cavaliers and cannot get open in the pick-and-roll. The Pistons center also consistently gets muscled out on rebounding attempts.
The nail in the coffin was the fact that Duren was benched for most of the final moments of Game 5. Even with the Cavaliers making their comeback attempt, the Pistons decided to go with Paul Reed. It looked like the right decision, too; Paul came up with some clutch saves and rebounds that nearly gave the Pistons a chance.
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Before the playoffs, Duren was on track to get a new lucrative contract. Now, that contract looks farther and farther away.
Cade Cunningham
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) gets set to take a free throw in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers during game one of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena.
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
“Wait, how can a player who scored 39 points be blamed for a loss?”, you might ask.
But to be completely blunt, Cunningham kept the Cavaliers in the game as much as he helped the Pistons. Cunningham made timely baskets and kept the Cavs at bay for the most part. However, his decision-making in the game was really suspect. He had six turnovers during the game, most of which came during the Cavaliers' late run in the fourth quarter and in overtime. Cunningham's offense was also noticeably absent in overtime.
What was perhaps even more damning for the Pistons, though, was Cunningham's lapses on defense. Strus had 20 points on six three-point shots, most of which came against the star guard. Watching Cunningham on defense, it seemed like he would zone out consistently. He'd be a beat late rotating to the open man, which was often Strus. He would also miss his assignments and let players blow by him way too easily.
It's not easy being the lead ball-handler in the playoffs, yes. That's doubly true for Cunningham, who's often the only player capable of piloting the Pistons' offense. However, that's part of the pressures of being a first option. Detroit isn't looking for an All-Defense performance from Cunningham, they just need him to not be a glaring void on that end.
In a playoff run with a lot of losses for the Detroit Pistons, this one might sting the most. Detroit had to protect their home court against the Cleveland Cavaliers after losing two straight road games. It looked like the home team was well on track to do just that, leading by nine points late in the final quarter.