Pistons vs Cavaliers Game 4: live score updates, highlights, 2026 NBA playoffs 2nd round series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cavaliers bounced back in Game 3 making this a series. Had Detroit won Game 3, it would have been an insurmountable hill to climb. Especially considering how the Pistons have been playing in these playoffs.
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As recently as May 8, fans seemed to be headed towards a Knicks vs Pistons Eastern Conference final. The Knicks swept the 76ers, but Cleveland could force a long series with a win tonight. A Cavs win would knot the series as two games apiece. Then it becomes a best of three series with Detroit still holding a home court advantage.
The key for Detroit comes down to only a few aspects and they will be in a good position for the remaining games. Do not allow Cleveland to shoot a respectable number from beyond the 3-point arc and continue to out rebound them. Detroit has a significant series edge in rebounding and Cleveland has not been able to change that. In the two games Cleveland lost, they shot over 30 three-point shot while shooting under 30%.
Cleveland needed a great game from Donovan Mitchell and timely plays down the stretch from James Harden just to win the game. While they won that game by 7, Detroit was within 2 with under a minute to play. Cleveland needs a full, good effort from their big four. Detroit just has to keep playing Detroit Basketball.
Pistons vs. Cavaliers live updates, highlights from NBA playoffs Game 4
4th Quarter-9:58: Donovan Mitchell makes a 5-foot driving floater.
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4th Quarter-10:41: Donovan Mitchell makes a running layup.
4th Quarter-11:08: Evan Mobley makes a layup.
Team Stats after 3 Quarters
DET
CLE
FG
32-61
28-57
Field Goal %
52
49
3PT
8-16
13-33
Three Point %
50
39
FT
5-8
21-24
Free Throw %
63
88
Rebounds
24
21
Offensive Rebounds
7
6
Defensive Rebounds
17
15
Assists
17
20
Steals
6
10
Blocks
1
7
Total Turnovers
16
10
Points Conceded Off Turnovers
22
14
Fast Break Points
5
4
Points in Paint
36
24
Fouls
20
10
Technical Fouls
0
0
Flagrant Fouls
0
0
Largest Lead
7
18
Percent Led
42
50
The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Detroit Pistons 90-77 after three quarters.
3rd Quarter-0:01: Paul Reed makes a tip shot.
3rd Quarter-0:09: Duncan Robinson fouls James Harden on his shooting elbow behind the three-point line. Harden made all three free throws. James Harden has a double double before the end of the 3rd. 24 points and 11 assists.
3rd Quarter-0:32: Paul Reed makes a layup.
3rd Quarter-1:31: James Harden makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-1:42: Duncan Robinson makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
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3rd Quarter-2:40: Paul Reed makes a 1-foot reverse layup.
3rd Quarter-3:43: Paul Reed makes a 5-foot shot.
3rd Quarter-4:13: Caris Levert makes a driving layup.
3rd Quarter-4:45: Donovan Mitchell makes a 7-foot floater.
3rd Quarter-5:33: Paul Reed makes a 27-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-5:57: DET get on the board and halts the scoreless run. Paul Reed makes a 1-foot driving dunk.
3rd Quarter-6:14: Donovan Mitchell makes a 14-foot turnaround jumper. This is the largest lead in
3rd Quarter-6:53: Jarrett Allen makes a driving dunk. Cleveland is on their largest ‘run’ in team playoff history. 21-0 to start the second half.
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3rd Quarter-7:28: Jarrett Allen blocks Daniss Jenkins‘ 5-foot shot.
3rd Quarter-7:55: Donovan Mitchell makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter: 8:16: Evan Mobley steals Cade Cunningham‘s pass. James Harden makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-8:43: Donovan Mitchell makes a 25-foot three-point shot. CLE is on a 131-0 run.
3rd Quarter-9:53: Jarrett Allen makes a layup.
3rd Quarter-10:28: Donovan Mitchell makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
3rd Quarter-10:52: Donovan Mitchell makes an 8-foot driving floater. Fouled on the play. Made the extra free throw.
1st Half Box ScoreDetroit Pistons
On Court
PTS
REB
AST
FG
3PT
FT
STL
BLK
TO
+/-
FPTS
17
2
2
7/12
3/5
0/0
0
1
0
+14
24
14
8
3
6/9
2/3
0/0
2
0
0
+6
30
12
1
5
4/8
1/2
3/3
0
0
1
+3
22
6
2
0
3/7
0/0
0/0
2
0
2
-2
8
1
0
1
0/1
0/1
1/2
0
0
1
+1
2
On Bench
PTS
REB
AST
FG
3PT
FT
STL
BLK
TO
+/-
FPTS
4
3
0
2/3
0/0
0/0
0
0
1
+6
6
2
2
0
1/1
0/0
0/0
0
0
4
-15
0
0
1
0
0/1
0/1
0/0
0
0
0
+3
1
0
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0
-3
0
0
1
1
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
1
+7
2
Cleveland Cavaliers
On Court
PTS
REB
AST
FG
3PT
MIN
STL
BLK
TO
+/-
FPTS
15
0
6
3/8
3/6
18
2
1
2
-1
28
11
1
2
4/7
1/3
20
2
2
0
+1
20
5
2
0
2/5
1/4
14
2
0
2
-4
7
5
3
0
1/2
0/0
15
0
1
1
-2
8
4
3
2
1/8
1/5
19
0
0
1
+3
10
On Bench
PTS
REB
AST
FG
3PT
FT
STL
BLK
TO
+/-
FPTS
6
1
2
2/4
2/4
0/0
1
0
0
-1
12
5
1
0
2/3
1/2
0/0
0
0
1
-9
5
1
3
0
0/1
0/1
1/2
0
0
0
-7
4
0
1
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
1
0
0
1st Half Team Stats
DET
CLE
FG
23-42
15-38
Field Goal %
55
39
3PT
6-12
9-25
Three Point %
50
36
FT
4-5
13-16
Free Throw %
80
81
Rebounds
21
14
Offensive Rebounds
6
4
Defensive Rebounds
15
10
Assists
12
12
Steals
4
7
Blocks
1
4
Total Turnovers
10
7
Points Conceded Off Turnovers
13
9
Fast Break Points
5
4
Points in Paint
22
12
Fouls
13
5
Technical Fouls
0
0
Flagrant Fouls
0
0
Largest Lead
7
11
Percent Led
58
29
The Detroit Pistons lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 56-52 at halftime.
2nd Quarter-0:09: Evan Mobley makes a dunk.
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2nd Quarter-0:31: Tobias Harris makes a driving layup.
2nd Quarter-1:27: DET secured two offensive rebounds on this possession resulting in a Caris Levert three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-2:19: Tobias Harris makes a 5-foot floater.
2nd Quarter-2:48: Donovan Mitchell makes a 23-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-3:36: Tobias Harris makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-4:47: Evan Mobley makes a driving layup.
2nd Quarter-5:05: Isaiah Stewart makes a two-point shot.
2nd Quarter-5:45: Caris Levert makes a 2-foot running jumper.
2nd Quarter-6:24: Dennis Schroder makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-6:44: Cade Cunningham makes a running layup. Fouled on the play. He made the extra free throw.
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2nd Quarter-7:27: Jalen Duren makes an alley oop dunk.
2nd Quarter-8:04: Sam Merrill makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-8:35: Ausar Thompson makes a layup.
2nd Quarter-8:49: Sam Merrill makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-9:11: Max Struss makes a 1-foot dunk.
2nd Quarter-9:57: Caris Levert makes a 16-foot fade away jumper.
2nd Quarter-10:15: Max Struss makes a 26-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-10:46: Evan Mobley makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-11:03: Jalen Duren makes a driving layup.
2nd Quarter-11:43: Caris Levert makes a 6-foot floater.
The Detroit Pistons lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 24-21 after the first quarter
1st Quarter-1:03: Cade Cunningham makes a 16-foot shot.
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1st Quarter-1:36: Caris Levert makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-1:46: Dennis Schroder makes a running layup.
1st Quarter-2:31: Dennis Schroder draws a charge on Daniss Jenkins.
1st Quarter-4:05: Isaiah Stewart makes layup. DET takes their first lead since 3-2.
1st Quarter-5:19: Caris Levert makes a 26-foot three-point shot. Cleveland calls a timeout. Detroit has narrowed the 9-point lead to only a 3-point lead.
1st Quarter-5:40: Jalen Duren makes a layup.
1st Quarter-5:56: Evan Mobley makes a 9-foot shot.
1st Quarter-6:30: Due to early fouls, Cleveland will be in the bonus for the remainder of this half.
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1st Quarter-6:49: Caris Levert makes a 15-foot pull up jumper.
1st Quarter-7:46: James Harden makes a 26-foot three-point shot. Detroit has committed five early turnovers.
1st Quarter-9:16: James Harden makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-10:16: James Harden makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-10:33: Cade Cunningham makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
1st Quarter-10:58: Jarrett Allen makes a driving layup.
How to Watch Game 4 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Detroit Pistons (2-1) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (1-2)Monday, May 11Tip-off: 8:00 p.m. ETTV: NBC and PeacockMore NBA Playoff news: