Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH | Game ID: 42500203
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 32 32 19 33 116DET 30 18 33 28 109
ESPN UpdateESPN Update
Harden hits clutch shots, Mitchell scores 35 and the Cavaliers beat the Pistons 116-109 in Game 3
CLEVELAND -- — After collapsing in the clutch in the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Cleveland Cavaliers got timely plays in the final three minutes from James Harden and Max Strus to get back into their series against the Detroit Pistons .
Harden hit three big shots and Strus came up with the steal and go-ahead basket in the Cavaliers' 116-109 victory on Saturday to cut the Pistons' lead to 2-1.
“We know how important it is to get this first win to make it a series. So, really a team win where a lot of guys contributed tonight,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said.
The Cavaliers will look to even the series when they host Game 4 on Monday night.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 35 points and 10 rebounds, while Harden finished with 19 points and Jarrett Allen scored 18.
There were 11 lead changes, with the final one occurring with 2:28 remaining when Strus jumped to snare Cade Cunningham 's inbound pass to Daniss Jenkins near midcourt. Strus then drove past Cunningham and Jenkins to make a layup and give the Cavaliers a 106-104 advantage.
Atkinson called it the winning play of the game.
“That was a game changer right there. It gives us a lead, get a couple stops and a couple buckets and that’s the game,” Harden said.
Strus said it was about 3-4 seconds into the inbound play that he timed his jump and made the play.
“My job is to help win in any form or fashion,” said Strus, who finished with seven points, five rebounds and one steal. “Some nights it’s going to be shooting. Some nights it’s going to be defense. Some nights it’s going to be rebounds. The ball didn’t find me tonight, but I don’t care. As long as our team wins, I just want to make an impact and find a way to win.”
It was also the first of three straight turnovers by Cunningham, who had his second career postseason triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but also committed eight turnovers.
“I don’t want to say they were careless turnovers because I care about it a lot. They were just bad turnovers,” he said.
Harden, who drew plenty of criticism for turnovers in the clutch in the first two games, kept the Cavaliers in front with big shots. The 17-year veteran hit a 16-foot step-back jumper to extend the lead to 108-104. After a driving dunk by Cunningham, Harden made a floating 7-footer to put the lead back up to four.
Cunningham responded with a 3-pointer before Harden provided the decisive blow with 25 seconds remaining on a step-back 3-pointer while being guarded by Harris to make it 113-109.
Mitchell reached 2,000 career postseason points in his 73rd game, tied for third-fastest among active players and ninth in NBA history. He said Harden's performance showed why he wasn't worried after two tough games in Detroit.
“I think the biggest thing is just he’s always consistent. He’s not result based. I think the biggest thing is we’ve seen him thrive and for me and for the group just continue to be like, ‘Hey, we know who you are. Keep being yourself.’ We’ve seen him play at a very high level, so we have no doubt that he’s going to continue to be great,” Mitchell said. “Every game might not be that way for him, for me, for whoever. But it’s just how do you continue to stay even keel and find ways to impact the game.”
Tobias Harris added 21 points for Detroit, which had its five-game playoff win streak snapped.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaMiMoWa 5 13 -5 5 6 83 2 3 67 1 2 50 0 3 3 3 0 1 4 3
CLE Allen, Harden, Mitchell, Mobley, Wade
in Allen, Harden, Mitchell, Mobley, Wade
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaScStTy 4 14 +6 6 8 75 1 2 50 1 1 100 0 3 3 5 0 0 0 0
CLE Allen, Harden, Schröder, Strus, Tyson
in Schröder, Strus, Tyson
out Mitchell, Mobley, Wade
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
MiMoScStTy 3 5 +1 2 3 67 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 3 2 1
CLE Mitchell, Mobley, Schröder, Strus, Tyson
in Mitchell, Mobley
out Allen, Harden
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
MeMiMoStTy 1 2 +1 1 3 33 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 1
CLE Merrill, Mitchell, Mobley, Strus, Tyson
in Merrill
out Schröder
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HaMeMiMoTy 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 2
CLE Harden, Merrill, Mitchell, Mobley, Tyson
in Harden
out Strus
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HaMeMiMoWa 2 7 +4 2 2 100 1 1 100 2 2 100 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2
CLE Harden, Merrill, Mitchell, Mobley, Wade
in Wade
out Tyson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaMeScWa 2 2 0 1 2 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0
CLE Allen, Harden, Merrill, Schröder, Wade
in Allen, Schröder
out Mitchell, Mobley
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaMiMoSt 5 21 +9 7 10 70 2 3 67 5 9 56 1 3 4 3 0 0 0 1
CLE Allen, Harden, Mitchell, Mobley, Strus
in Mitchell, Mobley, Strus
out Merrill, Schröder, Wade
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaMiMoWa 5 5 -5 2 7 29 0 5 0 1 2 50 0 4 4 1 0 0 1 2
CLE Allen, Harden, Mitchell, Mobley, Wade
in Wade
out Strus
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaScStWa 2 3 -3 1 3 33 1 3 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0
CLE Allen, Harden, Schröder, Strus, Wade
in Schröder, Strus
out Mitchell, Mobley
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaScStTy 1 2 -3 1 2 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0
CLE Allen, Harden, Schröder, Strus, Tyson
in Tyson
out Wade
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
MiMoScStTy 4 9 -3 4 7 57 1 3 33 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 2
CLE Mitchell, Mobley, Schröder, Strus, Tyson
in Mitchell, Mobley
out Allen, Harden
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HaMeMiMoSc 5 16 +1 6 8 75 2 4 50 2 2 100 2 2 4 3 0 1 1 2
CLE Harden, Merrill, Mitchell, Mobley, Schröder
in Harden, Merrill
out Strus, Tyson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaMeMiSt 1 2 -3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CLE Allen, Harden, Merrill, Mitchell, Strus
in Allen, Strus
out Mobley, Schröder
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
AlHaMiMoSt 4 11 +3 4 9 44 0 2 0 2 2 100 1 2 3 0 2 0 1 1
CLE Allen, Harden, Mitchell, Mobley, Strus
in Mobley
out Merrill
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaRoTh 5 18 +5 6 11 55 2 2 100 4 6 67 3 1 4 4 3 0 1 1
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Robinson, Thompson
in Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Robinson, Thompson
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
DuHaJeRoTh 1 2 -4 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
DET Duren, Harris, Jenkins, Robinson, Thompson
in Jenkins
out Cunningham
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuHaLeStTh 2 6 0 2 5 40 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0
DET Cunningham, Harris, LeVert, Stewart, Thompson
in Cunningham, LeVert, Stewart
out Duren, Jenkins, Robinson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuGrIiLeSt 3 4 -1 2 6 33 0 1 0 2 2 100 2 1 3 0 2 1 1 0
DET Cunningham, Green, Holland II, LeVert, Stewart
in Green, Holland II
out Harris, Thompson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuGrIiLe 1 0 -2 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1
DET Cunningham, Duren, Green, Holland II, LeVert
in Duren
out Stewart
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuGrJeRo 1 0 -2 0 5 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 0
DET Cunningham, Duren, Green, Jenkins, Robinson
in Jenkins, Robinson
out Holland II, LeVert
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
DuHaJeRoTh 1 3 -2 1 1 100 0 0 0 1 2 50 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
DET Duren, Harris, Jenkins, Robinson, Thompson
in Harris, Thompson
out Cunningham, Green
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaRoTh 2 2 0 1 4 25 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 1 0 0 1
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Robinson, Thompson
in Cunningham
out Jenkins
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuHaJeRoSt 1 4 +2 1 3 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 1
DET Cunningham, Harris, Jenkins, Robinson, Stewart
in Jenkins, Stewart
out Duren, Thompson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuHaJeRoSt 1 4 -3 2 2 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2
DET Cunningham, Harris, Jenkins, Robinson, Stewart
in ---
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
DuHaJeLeRo 2 2 -3 1 3 33 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1
DET Duren, Harris, Jenkins, LeVert, Robinson
in Duren, LeVert
out Cunningham, Stewart
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HaJeLeRoSt 1 2 -2 1 3 33 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 3
DET Harris, Jenkins, LeVert, Robinson, Stewart
in Stewart
out Duren
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaRoTh 7 16 +8 6 12 50 1 2 50 3 3 100 1 6 7 4 1 0 0 1
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Robinson, Thompson
in Cunningham, Duren, Thompson
out Jenkins, LeVert, Stewart
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuHaReRoTh 1 5 +3 1 1 100 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
DET Cunningham, Harris, Reed, Robinson, Thompson
in Reed
out Duren
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuHaLeReTh 2 7 +5 4 5 80 0 0 0 1 1 100 1 2 3 1 1 0 1 0
DET Cunningham, Harris, LeVert, Reed, Thompson
in LeVert
out Robinson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
GrHaJeLeRe 1 3 -1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
DET Green, Harris, Jenkins, LeVert, Reed
in Green, Jenkins
out Cunningham, Thompson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuGrLeRo 3 5 -2 2 4 50 1 1 100 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 1
DET Cunningham, Duren, Green, LeVert, Robinson
in Cunningham, Duren, Robinson
out Harris, Jenkins, Reed
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HaJeReRoTh 2 7 +2 3 3 100 1 1 100 1 1 100 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0
DET Harris, Jenkins, Reed, Robinson, Thompson
in Harris, Jenkins, Reed, Thompson
out Cunningham, Duren, Green, LeVert
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuHaReRoTh 2 5 +2 2 3 67 1 1 100 2 2 100 1 3 4 2 0 0 1 2
DET Cunningham, Harris, Reed, Robinson, Thompson
in Cunningham
out Jenkins
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaRoTh 1 3 +1 1 3 33 1 2 50 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Robinson, Thompson
in Duren
out Reed
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CuDuHaJeRo 1 0 -2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0
DET Cunningham, Duren, Harris, Jenkins, Robinson
in Jenkins
out Thompson
DET KarmaHide StintsShow StintsHide PMShow PMHide KarmaShow KarmaHide ScoresShow Scores
Who
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DETAT A. Thompson
CC C. Cunningham
CL C. LeVert
DJ D. Jenkins
DR D. Robinson
IS I. Stewart
JD J. Duren
JG J. Green
PR P. Reed
RH R. Holland II
TH T. Harris
CLEDM D. Mitchell
DS D. Schröder
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
JA J. Allen
JH J. Harden
JT J. Tyson
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
SC Schroder
DET/CLE the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur