Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins did not hide his frustration after Wednesday night’s devastating 117-113 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Pistons surrendered a late lead at Little Caesars Arena after leading by nine points with under three minutes remaining in regulation before the Cavaliers stormed back to force overtime and take a 3-2 series lead.
Jenkins, who started in place of the injured Duncan Robinson and scored 19 points, addressed the team’s defensive breakdowns moments after the loss. The second-year guard’s candid comments quickly drew attention as the top-seeded Pistons now face elimination entering Game 6 in Cleveland. Pistons beat writer Hunter Patterson shared Jenkins’ straightforward postgame reaction on X, formerly Twitter, following the overtime loss.
“We ain’t supposed to lose that lead like that, man. We’ve gotta be better, gotta execute better. Defensively we gave up too many timely 3s.”
Daniss Jenkins on the final 3mins of regulation:
“We ain’t supposed to lose that lead like that, man. We’ve gotta be better, gotta execute better. Defensively we gave up too many timely 3s.”
— Hunter Patterson (@HunterPatterson) May 14, 2026
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The Pistons appeared in control for much of Game 5 after building a 15-point first-half lead behind another masterful performance from superstar Cade Cunningham, who finished with 39 points and nine assists. The Pistons still led 103-94 late in the fourth quarter before the Cavaliers erupted with a decisive closing run fueled by timely perimeter shooting from Max Strus and veteran shot-making from James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
Strus finished with 20 points and a playoff career-high six 3-pointers, while Harden added 30 points, eight rebounds, and six assists as the Cavaliers secured their first road playoff win of the 2026 postseason. The loss marked the Pistons’ third consecutive defeat after opening the series with back-to-back wins at home.
The comments from the second-year guard reflected the frustration surrounding Detroit’s late defensive lapses, particularly against the Cavaliers’ timely perimeter shooting. The No. 1-seeded Pistons now head to Cleveland facing elimination in Friday night’s Game 6.
Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins did not hide his frustration after Wednesday night’s devastating 117-113 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Pistons surrendered a late lead at Little Caesars Arena after leading by nine points with under three minutes remaining in regulation before the Cavaliers stormed back to force overtime and take a 3-2 series lead.