The Detroit Pistons cruised to a 107-97 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena, handing the Cavs their second consecutive loss to start the series. Cade Cunningham was the main catalyst for the Pistons, pouring in 25 points and dishing out a team-high 10 assists.
The 20-year-old guard, a highly touted rookie from the University of Oklahoma, has been one of the most impressive young players in the league this season. His ability to create shots for himself and his teammates has been a major factor in the Pistons’ success, and he showed no signs of slowing down against the Cavs.
Pistons’ Depth Proves Too Much for Cavaliers
The Pistons’ bench was a significant factor in their victory, outscoring the Cavs’ reserves 43-20. Detroit’s Jeremy Walker had a breakout game off the bench, scoring 17 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in 23 minutes of play.
“We’re a better team when our bench is contributing like that,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said after the game. “It’s huge for us to have that kind of depth and for our guys to be able to step up and play big minutes.”
Cleveland Struggles to Contain Pistons’ Offense
The Cavaliers, on the other hand, struggled to contain the Pistons’ offense, which shot 52% from the field and 42% from three-point range. Detroit’s 3-point shooting was particularly problematic for the Cavs, as the Pistons hit 10 of their 22 attempts from beyond the arc.
“We just couldn’t keep them in front of us,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They moved the ball well and got a lot of easy looks at the basket. We have to do a better job of closing out and contesting their shots.”
The loss drops the Cavaliers to 0-2 in the series, while the Pistons take a commanding 2-0 lead. The Cavs will look to even up the series on the road in Game 3, but they’ll face a tough task against a Pistons team that’s playing with confidence and cohesion.
**Game Stats:**
- Cade Cunningham (Detroit): 25 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds
- Tobias Harris (Detroit): 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
- Jeremy Walker (Detroit): 17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
- Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland): 22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
- Caris LeVert (Cleveland): 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
The Pistons will host the Cavaliers in Game 3 on Saturday night, with the series tied at 2-0.
