The Cavaliers rallied late, beating the Pistons for a 3-2 lead in the final game of the NBA Playoff | Basketball

James Harden scored 30 points and Donovan Mitchell added 21, including seven in overtime, as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 117-113 to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Max Strus had 20 points and eight rebounds and Evan Mobley added 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Cavaliers, who snapped a five-game losing streak on Wednesday.

Harden had eight rebounds and six assists, while Jarrett Allen contributed 16 points and 10 boards.

“You hope it motivates us. You hope it motivates us. You hope we go forward,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said.

Cade Cunningham finished with 39 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and Daniss Jenkins added 19 points for the Pistons, who will be facing their fourth straight elimination this season.

“It’s a tough loss,” Cunningham said. “Obviously we want to defend our home court. We didn’t do that. Being up 3-2 is an advantage for them.”

“(Donovan) struggled a little bit, but that’s why he has a team and guys that pick him up,” Harden said. “Max (Strus) came through, he shot. Dennis (Schroder) came in, he played really well.

Cleveland began to dominate the period, scoring nine of the first 11 points to build a 112-105 lead.

Cunningham’s shot brought Detroit within 113-111 with 25.9 seconds left, but the Cavaliers closed at the free throw line. Harden and Mobley combined to hit four of six shots in the closing seconds.

“He started to double-double and take the ball out of Cade’s hands. We’re going to find ways to solve it. We’re going to be good,” Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff said.

Cleveland pushed the lead to four early in the fourth quarter, but Detroit responded with a 15-2 run to take a 100-91 advantage with less than four minutes left.

Cleveland missed its first nine shots of the period before going late, eventually pulling within 103 on Mobley’s two free throws with 45.2 seconds to play. The Cavaliers had a chance to win, but couldn’t get a shot in their end zone before time expired.

“I’m taking advantage of what they’re doing and it’s giving us a good chance. I wasn’t good at drawing those two and getting the ball to guys better,” Cunningham said.

The Pistons came out aggressive and grabbed an early 7-2 lead behind Jenkins, who scored all seven of Detroit’s points in the early outburst. Cleveland settled in quickly, and the rest of the first quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle with four ties and six lead changes.

Detroit took control early in the second quarter with an 18-5 run to build a 47-32 lead. Cleveland responded with an 8-0 spurt to pull within seven, but the Pistons took a 60-52 halftime advantage after forcing 10 turnovers that resulted in 20 points.

Cleveland converted in the third quarter as Detroit struggled offensively, and the Cavaliers took good care of the ball. The Pistons missed the first 10 shots, allowing Cleveland to erase the halftime deficit and pull even at 68 midway through the quarter.

The Cavaliers had only two turnovers in the quarter, and used Detroit’s coldness to close with an 11-3 run to take an 84-80 lead in the fourth.

“It wasn’t our best offensive night, but I think that speaks volumes for our win, we found a way, and this is our first time doing that on the road,” Strus said. “And I think that’s the biggest thing we can do going forward in the playoffs.”

The Pistons played without guard Duncan Robinson, who was sidelined with back pain.

Game 6 of the best-of-seven game is Friday in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers win sends Cleveland to the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks. Detroit’s win opens Game 7 at home to the Pistons on Sunday.