Donovan Mitchell, James Harden Star as Cavs Outlast Cade Cunningham, Pistons for Crucial G3 Win
Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers avoided a 3-0 series deficit with a 116-109 Game 3 victory over Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons on Saturday in their second-round NBA playoff matchup.
With the game coming down to the wire, Harden scored seven straight points to help Cleveland secure its first win of the series and cut Detroit's lead to 2-1.
In addition to 19 points, Harden added seven assists to power the Cavaliers down the stretch. Mitchell finished with 35 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for a double-double in the pivotal Game 3 victory.
Five Cavaliers scored in double figures as Cleveland held off the Pistons down the stretch. Evan Mobley added 13 points, Jarrett Allen finished with 18 points and four rebounds and Dennis Schroder chipped in 11 points off the bench.
Cunningham, meanwhile, recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Pistons. Tobias Harris added 21 points, while Duncan Robinson finished with 15 points on 55 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Detroit took the series' first two games behind a combined 48 points and 17 assists from Cunningham. He stuffed the stat sheet again on Saturday, but eight turnovers proved costly.
The Pistons advanced past the first round for the first time since 2008 after rallying from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Orlando 4-3 and reach the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers earned a Game 7 win over the Toronto Raptors in the first round to advance to their third straight Eastern Conference semifinals.
Despite 23 points from Mitchell in Game 1 and a dominant 31-point performance in Game 2, the Cavaliers were unable to steal either game on the road.
Mitchell's series-high 35 points came at the perfect time as Cleveland avoided a 3-0 deficit and secured its first win of the series at home in Game 3.
The winner of the series between the Pistons and Cavaliers will face the winner of the series between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks are aiming for a series sweep on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.
Game 4 between the Pistons and Cavaliers is set for Monday at 8 p.m. ET.
