DETROIT – The Cavs didn’t have enough in the tank.
A spirited comeback attempt from Donovan Mitchell, who had 22 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter, came just too little, too late, and the Pistons walked away with the 133-122 victory.
The Cavs stepped onto the floor at Little Caesars Arena on Friday night with history on their side. Twelve straight wins against the Pistons.
But Cleveland quickly learned that past dominance means little when present struggles persist.
Even against a shorthanded Detroit squad missing its franchise centerpiece, Cade Cunningham, the Cavs looked like the ones on their back legs.
Sluggish, out of sync, and unable to dictate the pace, Cleveland fell behind early and never found the rhythm necessary to claw back, unraveling in a defeat that underscored the flaws they’ve been battling all month.
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March has been a grind.
A relentless travel schedule, injuries, and recurring weaknesses have all chipped away at the Cavs’ foundation of a historic season.
They haven’t played consecutive games in the same city since Feb. 21 and Feb. 23, and that has worn on the Cavs.
Even during their recent three-game winning streak, there were possession-by-possession lapses that, against more disciplined teams, could have led to losses. The Pistons took advantage, exposing the vulnerabilities that Cleveland has yet to fully patch.
Detroit entered the game with the NBA’s third-best defensive rating over the past 15 games, and it showed.
From the opening tip, the Pistons swarmed Cleveland’s ball handlers, pressing full court and disrupting passing lanes. The Cavs knew the persistent pressure was coming but they couldn’t do anything about it. They coughed up 14 turnovers, many of which led directly to transition opportunities for Detroit. The Pistons had 25 fast break points to Cleveland’s five.
With the Cavs’ offense thrown off balance early, they struggled to generate quality looks, settling for rushed shots and stagnant half-court possessions.
But the real damage came where it has so often this season — on the glass.
The Cavs’ rebounding issues have been a glaring concern, particularly in March, where they rank 25th in defensive rebound percentage (68.6%).
Against a young and aggressive Pistons team, those struggles were magnified. Cleveland gave up 16 offensive rebounds and allowed 24 second-chance points, repeatedly failing to close out defensive possessions.
Each extra opportunity for Detroit chipped away at Cleveland’s defensive energy which it already had to fight to muster in the first place.
Not to mention, the Pistons offense was hungry, spread out and allowed multiple players to shine.
Tim Hardaway Jr. played with the urgency Cleveland lacked, torching the Cavs for a season-high 32 points on an efficient 10 of 18 shooting, including 7 of 11 from 3-point range. His shot-making stretched Cleveland’s defense to its limits. And seven of the Pistons’ nine players to enter the contest scored in double figures.
Cleveland’s own attack lacked the same cohesion.
Darius Garland followed Mitchell’s standout fourth quarter with 21 points, but the stars didn’t get enough support.
With Max Strus (ankle injury management) and Ty Jerome (knee) unavailable, the Cavs struggled to find consistent secondary scoring. Their 3-point shooting, often a saving grace, faltered, and with their transition game stifled by turnovers, they had no reliable counterpunch.
The loss continues a troubling trend as the Cavaliers approach the final stretch of the season.
Up next
The Cavs travel home for a matinee game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Rocket Arena on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Eastern.
