Playoff Live Thread: Cavs @ Pistons (Game 5)
2026-05-13Can the Cavs win one on the road? After solid wins in Cleveland in which Spida was transcendent and James Harden looked like James Harden again, the wine and gold will try to repeat the blueprint of the previous two wins: limit turnovers, lock down on Cade and Tobias Harris, make everyone else beat you, and let the Cavs big three eat (Harden, Mitchell, and Mobley).
For the Pistons, it’s been a lot of J.B. bitching about free throw disparity since Monday, to which I say, “maybe you should stop fouling people?” This isn’t a must-win for Cleveland, so I have my doubts as to their urgency. I hope they have figured out that they can’t wait till the last possible minute to play with urgency but I have my doubts. If the Cavs can match the energy and execution, they should get this, especially if Duren and Amen Thompson look like warmed over garbage again. Young players do love home cooking, though..
Can Dean Wade score any points to go with his exceptional defense? Will Kenny trust Jaylon Tyson or allow Schröder to hemorrhage points? Will Dennis’s three ball travel? Will the refs allow the Pistons to get away with murder on defense? Can Donovan be more than just a friendly neighborhood Spida? We’ll know the answer to all these questions in a few hours. Go Cavs.
Quick 4-0 Detroit run. Back to 3.
Oh hell yeah Strus.
Strus with the strip!!!!!
Spida, Strus steal, Spida!
Up 7!
I’d rather Wade was defending Cade, but Strus has got the juice tonight. Gotta have him out there.
Hated that challenge. Gave the pistons momentum and let them regroup.
Kinda surprised Reed did not enter earlier in the game.
This was a galaxy brain challenge.
9-0 run to close the game. 4-0 in OT.
They’re not going to give harden that one.
Good start to OT. Up four. With the ball. Big possession here.
This is stupid lawyerball bullshit. The Cavs should lose this.
Worth a shot given the situation.
No
Feel like if Cavs limit TOs, they are the better team. Problem with that is that taking care of the ball is part of being a good team.
I don’t understand that last in possession. But let’s get this in ot.
Well,they got a shot.
Harden & Harris both with 5.
If we had cleaned the glass Thompson would have been out.
Lol. That’s not a trip
Ball went out before the buzzer went. Why is it OT??
Exactly,there was half a second or so.
OK, buzzer def went before.
Well I predicted that… turnover without even getting a shot off. Sigh.
Lucky they didn’t call that foul.
Have no trust in Mitchell at all in that situation. How many times have we seen it play out exactly like that this season. Unreal.
Should have called a timeout
I understand maybe not calling one after the 24 sec violation. Maybe take advantage of mismatch or unsettled D. But when Thompson has Donovan handled…
Call a timeout. Run a fucking play.
Dang, did not like Mitchell taking the last shot.
OT.
Cavs play for last shot LFG
Have to sub out harden here with two timeouts.
Hoo boy… Attaway Mobes.
Wow
Mobley with 2 big FTs there.
Ev, you are the man!
JB used his last timeout?
Detroit bailed us out on that possession. Mobley makes em count. Gonna be a thrilling finish.
Nice closing run here. All tied up!
Make them, Mobes!!!
LFG!
Heart in mouth with that Mobes shot.
Reed beats Mobley and JA for the rebound = bucket.
Needed that rebound.
This is the most frustrating Cavs team maybe ever. So much talent but lacking physical and mental toughness (aside from someone like Strus).
That Strus three gives em a chance.
If they get another point blank shot, Allen cannot go up weak.
Strus has been excellent.
Cavs would be screwed with Max.
Thank you, Max
Massive shot, Strus.
Thank you Max!
Mitchell m.i.a.
I just hope there’s a game 7.
4 pts in the first 7 minutes of the 4th is not gonna get it done.
Crowd is in the game, DET playing downhill. Gonna be hard to stop now.
Detroit dialing it up. Cavs succumbing
Bout to be over with one or two more of these types of possessions
5 point quarter so far. Who’s man enough to step up, Cavs?
We turnover the ball like a middle school team. Its an absolute embarrassment.
It is.
Needed that timeout one possession sooner imo
Harden needed a timeout didn’t get it.
So we get one good Mitchell game this series??
He’s been over 30 3 times.
Aight, fair point.
Mitchell needs to stop shooting 3s.
I am not liking the last couple minutes.
Yes. It’s not his night. I get why Allen passed to him, but he should have gone straight up.
TAKE CARE OF THE BALL
Harden needs a timeout
4 PTS in 5 minutes. The start of quarters have been horrific.
Bad couple of possessions. Need to be done with that.
Kenny has been unable to fix the Cavs spacing issues throughout the playoffs.
Closing lineup in.
Come on, guys.
2 straight Harden TOs.
Oof. Wade.
Why is Dean handling?
Bummer TO there.
Great d!
Flip switching time for Donovan. Let’s roll!!
He starts filling it up, it’s over.