05/11/26 09:56:00
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05/11 21:54 CDT Mitchell ties NBA playoff mark with 39 points in 2nd half as
Cavs even series vs. Pistons 112-103
Mitchell ties NBA playoff mark with 39 points in 2nd half as Cavs even series
vs. Pistons 112-103
By JOE REEDY
AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) --- Donovan Mitchell tied an NBA playoff record with 39 points
in the second half and the Cleveland Cavaliers evened their second-round series
against the Detroit Pistons with a 112-103 victory Monday night.
Mitchell matched the mark of Eric "Sleepy" Floyd on a free throw with 27.6
seconds remaining. He had a chance to break the record, set in 1987 against the
Los Angeles Lakers, but missed his second foul shot.
Mitchell finished with 43 points, including 15 during Cleveland's 24-0 run that
went from the last 12 seconds of the first half to the first six minutes of the
third quarter. Cleveland trailed 56-52 at halftime before taking control.
The Cavs were 10 of 12 from the field and made three 3-pointers. They also
converted five turnovers by the Pistons into nine points.
The 24-0 run was the longest in an NBA playoff game since since Minnesota also
scored 24 straight in Game 6 of its Western Conference semifinal series against
Denver in 2024. It was also the longest spurt by Cleveland in a postseason game
since play-by-play stats were kept in 1997-98. The previous high was 19 in an
Eastern semifinal series contest against Boston.
James Harden had his 40th playoff double-double with 24 points and 11 assists.
Evan Mobley had 17 points, five blocked shots and three steals as Cleveland
remained unbeaten at home in six playoff games.
Caris LeVert had a season high 24 points for Detroit. Cade Cunningham scored
19, the first time he has been held under 20 in 11 playoff games this season,
and Tobias Harris added 16.
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Detroit.
Harden scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers, as the Cavaliers jumped
out to a 16-5 lead five minutes into the game. The Pistons countered with a
23-5 run that included 10 points by LeVert. Detroit was 9 of 13 from the field
during the eight-minute spurt while Cleveland was 2 of 14 and missed all eight
3-point attempts.
Cleveland's largest lead was 21 points in the fourth quarter.
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