Cavaliers let late lead lapse, trim Pistons at buzzer

Field Level Media|published: Wed 5th February, 22:12 2025

Feb 5, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (9) drives to the basket on Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

Darius Garland made a 3-pointer as time expired to allow the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers to continue their dominance of the Detroit Pistons with a 118-115 victory on Wednesday night.

Garland made his transition basket after Cleveland squandered an eight-point lead in the final minute. Garland finished with 25 points as Cleveland defeated Detroit for the 12th straight time.

Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 30 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four blocked shots. Craig Porter Jr. supplied 16 points, and Max Strus added 15.

Cade Cunningham carried the Pistons with 38 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 20 points and Ausar Thompson 12.

Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell was inactive due to a right shoulder contusion. Mitchell scored 31 points in a seven-point home loss to Boston on Tuesday.

Mobley dominated the first half, scoring 20 points as Cleveland grabbed a 65-56 lead.

Strus' layup with 9:50 left in the third gave the Cavaliers a 70-60 lead. Thompson had a basket and an assist during a 7-0 Detroit spurt to cut Cleveland's lead to three.

Cunningham's 3-pointer with 4:47 remaining in the quarter pulled the Pistons within one at 77-76. Cunningham's layup later in the quarter gave Detroit a one-point lead.

The Cavaliers regained the lead at 86-83 on a 3-pointer by Porter before the end of the quarter. Cleveland then scored the first nine points of the fourth.

Detroit answered with a 9-0 run of its own, including two baskets by Cunningham, to make it 95-92. Garland responded with a personal five-point run.

Another basket by Garland with 3:40 left gave Cleveland a 105-97 advantage. After the Pistons came within three points again, Mobley made a layup. Garland's 3-pointer with 1:35 left gave the Cavaliers a 110-102 lead.

Cunningham's 3-pointer with 17 seconds remaining cut it to 112-109. After Garland split two free throws, Cunningham made three to cut Cleveland's lead to one.

Garland hit two free throws with 6.2 seconds left. Mobley then fouled Cunningham on a 3-point try, and he hit all three free throws to tie the game before Garland's winner.

--Field Level Media

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