The Cleveland Cavaliers not only secured a 3-2 series lead over the Detroit Pistons with Wednesday's overtime victory, but they also avoided a serious injury to key guard Donovan Mitchell in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Mitchell's Ankle Scare
Mitchell hit a right-handed layup near the end of the first quarter in Detroit, only to roll his right ankle as he attempted to get back on defense. Replays showed slight contact with the foot of a cameraman seated along the baseline, raising questions about whether he tripped. In any case, Mitchell appeared to be in agony after tumbling to the hardwood.
The Connecticut native, known as 'Spida,' writhed on the court with his eyes firmly shut and a balled fist pressed against his forehead. Teammates slowly helped Mitchell return to his feet, which proved to be bad news for the top-seeded Pistons.
Mitchell's Clutch Performance
Mitchell made just three field goals over the second, third, and fourth quarters, but hit three key shots in overtime to seal the 117-113 win: a floater, a layup, and a pull-up 3-pointer. The former Louisville star finished with 21 points, while teammates James Harden and Max Strus combined for 50 in the win.
Comeback from 15-Point Deficit
The Pistons had led by 15 points in the first half and 103-94 with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, but the Cavaliers managed to tie the game at 103 with a pair of Evan Mobley free throws. 'That stretch right there says a lot about our progress — mental performance progress and mental toughness progress,' Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said.
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff was displeased with the game's final sequence after Cleveland's Jarrett Allen and Detroit's Ausar Thompson got tangled up without a whistle from officials. 'He fouled Ausar — clearly,' Bickerstaff said. 'He tripped him when he was going for a loose ball.'
Overtime Heroics
It was the Cavs' 13-0 late fourth-quarter run that proved instrumental in forcing overtime, where Mitchell's 3-pointer gave Cleveland an insurmountable seven-point lead with 2:39 to play. Pistons star Cade Cunningham hit a jumper to cut the lead to two with 25 seconds remaining, finishing with 39 points and nine assists. Harden sealed the win on the ensuing possession when he rebounded his own missed free throw.
Now the series moves back to Cleveland for Friday's Game 6, where the Cavaliers can punch their ticket to the Conference Finals. 'It wasn't our best night offensively, but I think that's what speaks volumes to getting this win was we found a way,' Strus said.
