Donovan Mitchell delivers historic performance to lift the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 112-103 Game 4 victory over the Detroit Pistons to tie series at 2-2 [VIDEO]

Donovan Mitchell scores 39 points in second half to fuel comeback after Detroit threatened to steal Game 4 on the road

The Cleveland Cavaliers trailed 16-5 early in Game 4 on Monday night. James Harden had already hit three three-pointers, and the home crowd at Rocket Arena was quiet.

Then the Pistons answered with a 23-5 run of their own, took a 56-52 lead into halftime, and looked poised to steal a road game. But Cleveland flipped the game in the third quarter with a scoring barrage that began before the break and continued for six minutes after it.

The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 112-103, tying the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinals at 2-2.

James Harden Caught Fire Early Before Pistons Answered With Lengthy Run

The Cavaliers built a 16-5 lead approximately five minutes into the contest. James Harden scored 11 points in that stretch, including three three-pointers, and the Cleveland offense looked unstoppable against a Detroit defense that had won two straight games at home. The crowd sensed an early knockout blow as the Cavaliers moved the ball freely and found open looks from beyond the arc.

But the Pistons responded with a dominant 23-5 run over the next eight minutes that completely shifted the momentum. Caris LeVert scored 10 points during the spurt, attacking the rim and knocking down mid-range jumpers that the Cleveland defense could not contain. Detroit shot 9-of-13 from the field while the Cavaliers went 2-of-14 overall and missed all eight of their three-point attempts during that stretch.

The Cavaliers entered the locker room trailing 56-52, a four-point deficit that felt larger given how the half ended. Donovan Mitchell had scored only four points in the first half, and James Harden cooled off after his hot start. The home crowd had little to cheer about as the Pistons, who had won Games 1 and 2 in Detroit, appeared poised to take control of the series with a road victory.

Cleveland Opened Third Quarter With Historic Scoring Barrage That Changed Everything

The scoring run that decided the game began in the final 12 seconds of the second quarter and extended into the first six minutes of the third. Cleveland outscored Detroit 24-0 across that span, turning a four-point halftime deficit into a 20-point lead that the Pistons could not overcome. The run represented the longest unanswered scoring streak in an NBA playoff game since Minnesota’s 24-0 spurt against Denver in Game 6 of the 2024 Western Conference semifinals.

Donovan Mitchell scored 15 points during the sequence on 8-of-9 shooting, including two three-pointers that brought the crowd to its feet. The Cavaliers shot 10-of-12 from the field during the run, made three shots from beyond the arc, and converted five Pistons turnovers into nine points. Detroit looked helpless on both ends, unable to get a stop or generate any offensive rhythm against Cleveland’s suddenly stifling defense.

The run also marked the longest such spurt in Cavaliers postseason history in the play-by-play era dating to 1997-98, when the previous high was 19 points. The Pistons were outscored 38-21 in the third quarter and watched their 56-52 halftime lead evaporate into a deficit that grew as large as 21 points in the fourth quarter. Cleveland’s largest lead reached 21 points before Detroit mounted a late push that fell short.

Donovan Mitchell Dropped 39 Points in Second Half to Fuel Comeback Effort

Mitchell finished with 43 points on 13-of-26 shooting, including 4-of-12 from three-point range and 13-of-15 from the free-throw line. His 39-point second half tied the NBA playoff record for most points in a half, previously set by Eric “Sleepy” Floyd in 1987 when Floyd scored 29 points in the second half and 10 in overtime for Golden State against the Los Angeles Lakers. Mitchell made a free throw with 27.6 seconds left to tie the mark but missed the second attempt that would have broken the record outright.

The performance marked the latest signature playoff moment for Mitchell, who has carried the Cavaliers through multiple postseason runs since arriving in Cleveland. He scored 15 of his points during the decisive run that flipped the game, then continued attacking the basket and drawing fouls as Detroit scrambled to slow him down. His 15 free-throw attempts were more than the entire Pistons team managed in the game.

James Harden added 24 points on 5-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-9 from three-point range, and dished out 11 assists for his 40th career playoff double-double. Evan Mobley contributed 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 5 blocked shots on the defensive end, altering shots and cleaning up mistakes on the perimeter. Jarrett Allen added 9 points and 5 rebounds while protecting the paint alongside Mobley.

Pistons Outscored Cavaliers in Fourth Quarter but Couldn’t Complete Comeback

Detroit outscored Cleveland 26-22 in the fourth quarter but never got closer than seven points after the Cavaliers’ game-changing run. The Pistons shot 50.6 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from three-point range for the game, strong numbers that would typically lead to a victory. But the 18 turnovers and the free-throw disparity proved too much to overcome.

Caris LeVert led Detroit with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, marking a season-high for him in the playoffs. Cade Cunningham was held under 20 points for the first time in 11 playoff games this postseason, finishing with 19 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers. The Cleveland defense trapped him in pick-and-roll situations and forced the ball out of his hands, daring other Pistons to beat them.

Tobias Harris added 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Paul Reed contributed 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting off the bench. Jalen Duren grabbed only 2 rebounds in 28 minutes, a quiet night for the Pistons’ big man who had dominated the glass in Detroit’s two home wins. The bench scoring advantage favored Detroit 52-19, but the Pistons could not overcome the free-throw gap or the unanswered scoring run that changed the game.

Social Media Reacts to Mitchell’s Historic Half and Cavaliers’ Comeback

The 24-0 run and Donovan Mitchell scoring 39 points in the second half received immediate reactions across X. Viewers marveled at the Cavaliers’ ability to flip the game after trailing at halftime despite Harden’s early shooting and a quiet first half from their star guard.

One user wrote: “Mitchell had 4 points at halftime. Finished with 43. That’s insane.” Another posted: “24-0 run in the playoffs. In the third quarter. On the road? Wait no, at home. Still insane.” A third commented: “Detroit went cold at the worst possible time and Cleveland never looked back.”

Some Pistons fans expressed frustration at the collapse. “Up 56-52 at half and then you don’t score for six minutes,” one user wrote. “That’s how you lose a series.” Another added: “Cade had 5 turnovers and we shot 9 free throws. You can’t win playoff games like that.”

Others focused on the free-throw disparity. “30 free throws for Cleveland, 12 for Detroit,” one user noted. “That run was impressive but the whistle helped.” Cavaliers fans countered: “Mitchell and Harden attacked the rim. Detroit fouled. That’s basketball.”

Game 5 Heads Back to Detroit With Series Tied 2-2

The series returns to Detroit for Game 5 on Wednesday, May 13, at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Pistons have won both home games in the series, while the Cavaliers have protected their home floor twice. The winner of Game 5 will take a 3-2 lead back to Cleveland for Game 6, putting the opposing team on the brink of elimination.

Detroit will need to address its turnover issues and find a way to keep Mitchell out of the paint after his 15 free-throw attempts in Game 4. Cunningham must handle Cleveland’s trapping defense better than he did in the second half on Monday, where he looked rushed and indecisive with the ball. The Pistons also need more production from Jalen Duren on the glass after he grabbed only two rebounds in 28 minutes.

The Cavaliers, meanwhile, will look to carry the momentum of their historic scoring run into a hostile environment where they have not yet won this series. Mitchell and Harden combined for 67 points in Game 4, but Cleveland’s bench contributed only 19 points, a number they would like to improve. The Eastern Conference Semifinals have produced four competitive games with double-digit leads and dramatic swings. Game 5 could determine whether the defending conference champions return to Cleveland with a chance to close out.

The post Donovan Mitchell delivers historic performance to lift the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 112-103 Game 4 victory over the Detroit Pistons to tie series at 2-2 [VIDEO] appeared first on Hip Hop Vibe.

source https://hip-hopvibe.com/news/cavaliers-pistons-game-4-2026/