The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't play their best basketball for much of Game 5 against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, but they battled their way to a gritty 117-113 overtime win to take a 3-2 series lead.
Cleveland has now won three consecutive games in this series after dropping the first two. Kenny Atkinson and company will have a chance to close things out at home on Friday night and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
While Cleveland doesn't have its back against the wall anymore like it did coming into Game 3, it is still keeping that mindset heading back home for Game 6. After Game 5, Atkinson didn't hold back about how important getting the job done at home will be, via Jackson Flickinger of Fear The Sword.
“Kenny Atkinson calls Game 6 a ‘must-win' game for the Cavs,” Flickinger reported on X, formerly Twitter.
The Cavs trailed by double figures in the first half of this game and were down by as many as nine in the final three minutes, but some big shots from Max Strus, James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, as well as a pair of big Evan Mobley free throws, helped them force overtime after a controversial no-call that could have given the Pistons the win at the end of regulation.
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The Cleveland defense took over in overtime, as the Cavs held the Pistons to just two points in the first half of the extra period. Mitchell made some big buckets on the other end to give Cleveland a seven point lead.
Things got a little tight at the end of overtime, but a big offensive rebound from James Harden off of a free throw helped the Cavs salt things away.
Now, Cleveland will return home for Game 6 in a building where it has been very comfortable. Across its two playoff series so far, the Cavs are 6-0 in front of their home fans, so they will be very confident heading into this one.
On the other side, the Pistons erased a 3-1 deficit in the first round against the Orlando Magic, so they will be ready to battle on Friday night.
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't play their best basketball for much of Game 5 against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, but they battled their way to a gritty 117-113 overtime win to take a 3-2 series lead. Cleveland has now won three consecutive games in this series after dropping the first two.