The Cleveland Cavaliers grabbed a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a dramatic 117-113 overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. The win marked Cleveland's first road victory of the 2026 postseason.
James Harden led the Cavaliers with 30 points, continuing his strong playoff performance since joining Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell also made key plays in the extra period to seal the victory. The Cavaliers have now won two straight games in the series after splitting the first four contests.
The Pistons, led by Cade Cunningham, fought hard throughout but came up short in overtime. Detroit will look to force a Game 7 when the series shifts back to Cleveland for Game 6. The Pistons' search for supporting scoring around Cunningham continues to be a concern.
Out West, the NBA playoffs have already seen their share of surprises, with the Minnesota Timberwolves knocking off higher-seeded opponents earlier in the tournament. The 2026 playoffs continue to deliver competitive basketball across both conferences.