2026 NBA Playoffs

Recap: Cavaliers take crucial Game 5 victory on the road

Enjoy highlights and observations from Cavaliers-Pistons Game 5 with the NBA.com live blog.

Ben Lambert, for NBA.com

James Harden led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a Game 5 victory over the Detroit Pistons, giving them a 3-2 lead.

Enjoy the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news and highlights from Wednesday’s action.

James Harden (30 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast) led the Cavaliers to an overtime victory over the Pistons on the road for a 3-2 series lead.

What we know about Wednesday’s game:

  • These teams will reconvene Friday at 7 ET on Prime Video.
  • Postgame Presser: Cavaliers-Pistons
  • The team that wins Game 5 when an NBA Playoff series is tied 2-2 has gone on to take the series 81.7% of the time.

MAY 13, 2026 / 11:28 ET

Wednesday’s result

Cade Cunningham (39 pts, 7 reb, 9 ast, 2 stl) is your top performer of the night in defeat.

MAY 13, 2026 / 11:19 ET

Postgame Presser: Cavaliers-Pistons

MAY 13, 2026 / 11:09 ET

Cavaliers win a crucial Game 5 117-113

James Harden (30 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast) and the Cavaliers snatched a late victory from the Pistons on the road, taking a 3-2 lead in this Eastern Conference Semifinals series.

Max Strus (20 pts, 6-of-8 3PA) and Evan Mobley (19 pts, 8 reb, 8 ast) stepped up for Cleveland, aiding Donovan Mitchell (21 pts).

The Pistons forced 16 turnovers, but the Cavs shot better from the field and 3-point range, ending the game on a 23-10 run to take the contest.

Cade Cunningham (39 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast, 2 stl) was huge for Detroit, but only Daniss Jenkins (19 pts) and Tobias Harris (13 pts) joined him in double figures.

“Very, very, very crazy team defensively,” said Harden. “At the beginning of (Game 6), we’ve got to make sure our mindset is right.”

The game saw 11 lead changes and nine ties, but the Cavs controlled overtime to take the win.

MAY 13, 2026 / 11:03 ET

Harden to the line with the game in the balance

James Harden (30 pts) just knocked down a free throw with 24.4 on the clock, then grabbed his own rebound after missing the second.

He was fouled again and hit one of two, giving the Cavs a 115-111 lead.

MAY 13, 2026 / 10:55 ET

Cleveland threatening to snatch home court

112-107 Cavaliers with 1:48 to go, as Donovan Mitchell puts in five straight points, including a layup off a backcourt steal from Max Strus.

Paul Reed responded with a jump hook for Detroit — he’s supplanted Jalen Duren down the stretch and provided a boost for the Pistons.

MAY 13, 2026 / 10:50 ET

Cavs with the first four points of OT

Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell (16 pts) put in the first two baskets of overtime, speeding the Cavs to a 107-103 lead with 3:14 to go in the game.

MAY 13, 2026 / 10:44 ET

Overtime in Detroit

Evan Mobley (17 pts) hit two clutch free throws to tie it, then, after a Caris LeVert miss on a broken possession, Ausar Thompson (4 stl, 3 blk) swatted the ball away from Donovan Mitchell, ending the Cavs’ final possession of regulation.

We’re tied at 103 on ESPN! Catch the finish.

MAY 13, 2026 / 10:40 ET

Cavs battle back

103-101 Detroit with 1:00 to go, as Evan Mobley (15 pts) strokes a clutch 3-pointer from above the break.

The Pistons took a 103-94 lead on a corner 3-pointer Tobias Harris (13 pts) off a big offensive rebound from Paul Reed, but the Cavs responded with a 7-0 run to make it a game.

MAY 13, 2026 / 10:35 ET

The Strus is loose

Max Strus (20 pts) just set a Playoff career-high with his sixth 3-pointer of the game, cutting the Pistons lead to 100-94 with 3:29 to go.

The shot followed a big and-one layup off by Daniss Jenkins (16 pts) off Cade Cunningham’s eighth assist, eliciting a roar from the crowd.

“These two teams throwing haymakers at each other,” said Mike Breen.

“I don’t know where Cleveland would be without Max Strus,” said Tim Legler.

MAY 13, 2026 / 10:33 ET

A 12-0 run for Detroit

Ausar Thompson (6 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast, 1 blk, 4 stl) just showed off the springs to swat a floater from Jarrett Allen, then drew a foul for two clutch free throws on the other end.

Allen had the space and got off the floor first, but Thompson had the burst to get to the shot.

97-89 with 5:04 remaining in Detroit.

MAY 13, 2026 / 10:26 ET

Cunningham refusing to let Detroit slip

A pull-up 3-pointer for Cade Cunningham (37 pts) lifts Detroit to a 92-89 lead with 6:41 remaining. He has eight points in the quarter.

Cade’s gone over 30 points five times in this Playoff run, serving as the engine for this Pistons run.

“Cade Cunningham operates so calmly, even under the most extreme pressure,” said Tim Legler.

MAY 13, 2026 / 10:13 ET

Back-and-forth on the odd number

86-85 Cavaliers, as the Pistons cut into the lead to start the fourth.

Cade Cunningham (34 pts) just hit a signature free throw line fadeaway over Sam Merrill.

That’s a tough shot to make into a staple, but Cunningham shoots it well enough, and has the size and strength to get it off consistently. He’s always a threat playing one-on-one in the middle of the floor.

MAY 13, 2026 / 10:05 ET

Cavaliers up 84-80 after three

As the quarter wound down, Evan Mobley (10 pts, 7 ast) jammed on Ausar Thompson, then followed it up with a 3-pointer. In between, Jalen Duren (9 pts, 5 reb) threw down a slam of his own.

The Cavaliers outscored the Pistons 32-20 in the third quarter to take a lead into the fourth.

“We’re in for a great finish in Detroit,” said Tim Legler.

MAY 13, 2026 / 10:04 ET

Cavaliers take a lead

79-78 Cleveland with 1:32 to go in the third quarter, as Max Strus (17 pts, 5 3PM) and Sam Merrill (6 pts, 2 3PM) knock down back-to-back 3-pointers.

MAY 13, 2026 / 9:55 ET

Some vintage Harden

James Harden (21 pts, 3 3PM) has it going here in the third quarter, including two 3-pointers. He looks comfortable after a slow start to the series — it might be time for him to shed his Playoff demons.

He just drew a foul on a short jumper, cutting the lead to 73-71 with 4:07 to go in the third.

MAY 13, 2026 / 9:41 ET

Cavaliers cut into lead to open third

66-61 Cleveland with 7:40 to go in the third, as James Harden goes to the line.

Evan Mobley (6 ast) has been an unexpected playmaker for the Cavs so far, including tossing an alley-oop to Jarrett Allen moments ago.

MAY 13, 2026 / 9:17 ET

Pistons take a 60-52 lead into the half

Cade Cunningham (20 pts on 7-of-14 shooting) kept up his scoring pace from the first quarter, while Detroit juiced up their advantage to 20-2 in points off turnovers.

James Harden (13 pts, 3 ast) and Max Strus (12 pts, 4 3PM in 15:32) have been the top scorers for the Cavaliers.

We’ve seen six lead changes and five ties in the game so far.

Both teams are shooting over 50% from the field and 6-of-14 (42.9%) from 3-point range. But the Cavs have turned the ball over 10 times to five for the Pistons, making the difference so far.

Harden has three turnovers, while Donovan Mitchell (8 pts, 3 reb) and Dennis Schroeder have two apiece. Ausar Thompson has four steals for Detroit.

MAY 13, 2026 / 9:08 ET

Cavaliers stabilize

49-41 Detroit with 4:00 to go in the second quarter, as the Cavaliers responded to the Pistons’ surge with a 9-6 stretch, which included six points from James Harden (10 pts, 3 ast).

MAY 13, 2026 / 8:53 ET

Detroit on a 12-2 run

The Pistons are 6-for-6 to start the second quarter, led by Tobias Harris (8 pts, 6 in the quarter), taking a 43-32 lead with 8:33 to go in the period.

MAY 13, 2026 / 8:41 ET

Pistons up 29-27 after one

Cade Cunningham (10 pts on 4-of-7 shooting) leads all scorers as the Pistons seek to defend home court.

They earned six more shots than the Cavaliers in the first quarter and shot 5-of-9 from 3-point range to seize this early advantage.

But the Cavs are sticking around by shooting 52.6% from the field, led by Max Strus (6 pts, 2 3PM).

MAY 13, 2026 / 8:37 ET

Pistons out in transition

Detroit’s forced six early turnovers by the Cavaliers, leading to an 11-2 advantage in points off giveaways. Ausar Thompson has three steals alone.

MAY 13, 2026 / 8:27 ET

Harris starts slowly

Tobias Harris is 0-of-6 to start tonight’s contest, as the Pistons readjust their scoring with Duncan Robinson out. Daniss Jenkins (7 pts) has led them early — we’ll see who else finds their rhythm.

MAY 13, 2026 / 8:15 ET

Daniss Jenkins starts us off

With Duncan Robinson (low back soreness) out, the Pistons will need the guard out of St. John’s to step up.

He’s been a spark off the bench all season, and begins tonight with five straight points.

MAY 13, 2026 / 7:00 ET

Starting Lineup: Cavaliers-Pistons, Game 5

Evan Mobley and Jalen Duren lead the Cavaliers and Pistons into Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on ESPN.

Cleveland:

  • PG James Harden
    • The Beard has been here before. His last two Playoff runs, both with the Sixers, led to 2-2 ties in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Both times, his team went on to lose the series.
  • SG Donovan Mitchell
    • Is this the biggest game of Donovan Mitchell’s career? He’s never made it to the Conference Finals. With a win tonight, his Cavaliers would be in the driver’s seat.
  • SF Dean Wade
    • Wade has held Cade Cunningham to 17 pts on 5-of-15 shooting in the series, guarding him on 86.6 partial possessions.
  • PF Evan Mobley
    • Mobley was everywhere defensively in Game 4, accruing five blocks and three steals, as well as a series-high 17 points.
  • C Jarrett Allen
    • Allen was held to nine points in Game 4, but added two blocks, patrolling the paint with Mobley. Watch to see if Jalen Duren can attack him in the paint.

Detroit:

  • PG Cade Cunningham
    • Cunningham is shooting just 39.5% from the field in this series, although he’s putting up 23.9 ppg.
  • SG Duncan Robinson
    • Watch Robinson tonight — he’s grown increasingly comfortable as this series has gone on. A big shooting night from him can swing any game.
  • SF Ausar Thompson
    • Can Thompson stay on the floor to guard Donovan Mitchell? He was limited to just 19 minutes in Game 4.
  • PF Tobias Harris
    • Harris finally had a down game in Game 4. He’s been clutch for Detroit, but needs to be able to get to his comfortable spots on the floor.
  • C Jalen Duren
    • The Pistons need more from their All-Star center. His lack of individual creation and shooting ability has been exposed some in the Playoffs, although he’s tried breaking out a midrange game at times.

MAY 13, 2026 / 6:30 ET

Wednesday’s injury report

Kevin Huerter, Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson are questionable for Detroit.

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