Pistons go cold to begin second quarter, Cavs extend lead, up 41-34 in Game 3
Mitchell hits LeVert with a crafty eurostep layup, then Duren is fouled as he splits the free throw attempts. Both teams struggling to hit shots early, as the Cavs are up to four team fouls in the first three minutes of this second quarter. Jenkins finally ends the Pistons’ cold streak with a driving layup, but Mitchell answers with a jumper.
Thompson goes 1-for-2 from the line, then Harden finds Dean Wade in the corner for 3 as the Pistons call for time with 7:36 remaining in the second quarter.
Lead changes multiple times in first quarter, Pistons trail, 32-30, in Game 3
Pistons and Cavs continue to exchange buckets and the lead changes four times in under a minute. The Cavs get some room as Harden hits a floater, then Caris LeVert gets four straight points off two free throws and a steal leading to a dunk. Cunningham bullies Max Strus inside for the offensive rebound and lays it in as Detroit again takes the lead.
After a quick timeout, Schröder hits a three and Mitchell follows up with a long 2-pointer for another lead change. Pistons commit a 5-second violation off an inbound but Mitchell’s last second heave falls short and the Cavs lead after one quarter of action.
Cavs go on 8-2 run, take first lead of the day as Pistons trail, 21-20, in first quarter
Jarrett Allen gets his second bucket with a layup, plus the foul as the lead’s cut to two points. Tobias Harris hits a midrange shot, but Harden drives and finds Dennis Schröder in the corner for a 3. An offensive foul on Duren gets the Rocket Arena crowd going, than an Allen layup gives the Cavs their first lead with 5:06 left, as Daniss Jenkins and Schröder exchange words during the timeout.
Cunningham leads with scoring and passing, Pistons up, 18-13, halfway through first quarter
Pistons win the tipoff as Duncan Robinson hits the 3 off the assist from Cade Cunningham. Donovan Mitchell makes a layup, then Jalen Duren gets his first bucket off another Cunningham assist. James Harden hits a 3, then Cunningham answers with a 3-pointer of his own. Cunningham is fouled by Mitchell on a layup and goes 1-for-2 at the line.
Cavs are turning the ball over on multiple possessions early, and the Pistons are making them pay. Robinson is fouled and goes 1-for-2 at the free throw line, but the Pistons are now up 12-5. Evan Mobley gets fouled by Cunningham and he splits the free throws as both teams are struggling from the line early. Mitchell hits a triple, leading to a back-and-forth between both teams.
After Mitchell misses a long-distance 3, Cunningham and Duren connect for a alley-oop dunk, a rarity in this postseason for both players. Cleveland calls their first timeout with 6:41 left in this opening quarter.
Starting Lineups
Starters stay the same for both teams.
Preview
The Pistons look to inch closer to an Eastern Conference Finals berth, traveling to Cleveland for Game 3 against a desperate Cavaliers squad on Saturday.
After winning Game 2 of this Eastern Conference semifinals, Detroit has won five postseason games in a row. Looking to advance to the conference finals for the first time since 2008, the Pistons will need the same performance from Cade Cunningham’s first two games this series to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
The Cavaliers return to Rocket Arena, where they are 4-0 in this postseason. Donovan Mitchell has done his part by averaging 27 points in the first two games, but James Harden has struggled. The veteran guard and former league MVP has averaged just 17 points and has committed more turnovers than made field goals in this series.
Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Kameron Goodwill.
NBA Playoffs, second round: No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 4 Cavaliers
Pistons lead series, 2-0
Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101
Game 2: Pistons 107, Cavaliers 97
Game 3: at Cleveland, Saturday, 3 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
Game 4: at Cleveland, Monday, May 11, 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
x-Game 5: at Detroit, Wednesday, May 13, TBD (TBD)
x-Game 6: at Cleveland, Friday, May 15, TBD (TBD)
x-Game 7: at Detroit, Sunday, May 17 TBD (TBD)
x-If necessary
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Pistons trail as Cavs extend second-quarter lead: Live updates
Reporting by Kameron Goodwill, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
