3 things to watch in Pistons-Cavaliers Game 4
Chasing History: Home Sweet Home
Remaining undefeated at residence in the postseason, the Cavaliers get clutch baskets from James Harden to defeat the Pistons and pull their sequence to 2-1.
As these best-of-seven sequence have a tendency to go when there is a pair of evenly matched groups, essentially the most pivotal second Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers most likely hasn’t occurred but.
That’s as a result of the house groups have taken care of enterprise via three video games, and at this price, the Pistons and Cavs — who wanted to survive Game Sevens to attain the semifinals — will as soon as once more be compelled to go the total restrict.
The subsequent sport will drop clues about that. The Cavs prevented a 3-0 gap by limiting their errors and driving their two stars in the second of reality in Game 3. And truly, all three video games had been tightly contested in fourth quarters, which means each groups had probabilities to win. Meaning this sequence might stretch into the weekend if this retains up.
Here’s what to watch for Game 4 in Cleveland (8 ET, NBC/Peacock):
1. Pistons’ No. 2 scorer is…
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Tobias Harris scores 21 factors for the Detroit Pistons in a Game 2 win.
Tobias Harris has been strong in that position, dropping 20 factors prefer it’s routine for him. News flash: It actually is not. He’s on a roll, however basketball logic says a participant who was his crew’s No. 3 choice all season will ultimately return and settle into that consolation zone. Assuming his 20-point streak ends, who will step up and run shotgun subsequent to Cade Cunningham?
Well, the dangerous information for the Pistons is Jalen Duren, who averaged practically 20 factors all season, has struggled offensively this postseason, averaging simply 10.4 factors. Furthermore, he is a possibility scorer, which means he will get buckets from Cade’s passing or from offensive rebounds or put-backs, and never off the dribble and positively nothing past 15 ft.
So, who’re the candidates? Duncan Robinson is taking pictures 43% from deep this submit season and appears aggressive, however traditionally he has by no means been a quantity shooter. Ausar Thompson does not look to rating; he is on the ground primarily for protection and hustle. No one else in the rotation is supplied to persistently deal with greater than 10 shot makes an attempt.
It might be the Pistons do not want a robust No. 2 in this sport or this sequence if their protection stays strong, they management the boards and Cade himself does not go chilly.
Still, it is a variety of ask of Harris to keep away from even the slightest stumble, given the restricted options.
2. Harden’s comply with up
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Cade Cunningham & James Harden commerce baskets all through Game 3 on May 9, 2026.
He did it as soon as. Can I do it once more? Seldom has that query ever been posed to James Harden all through his profession with regard to scoring. He was normally good for 25-30 factors or extra nightly; simply pencil him in for that. But that was then and that is now.
The trick for Harden is to match his Game 3, when he had a robust fourth quarter, made all the required photographs and eased the burden on Donovan Mitchell. And Harden will seemingly want to carry that Monday or else the Cavs might fall right into a 3-1 gap heading again to Detroit; the Cavs are nonetheless on the lookout for their first playoff highway win this season.
After his Game 3 efficiency, Harden brushed apart any issues about his age (37) and stamina and talent to rating effectively. That’s simple for him to say. But it is a enterprise outcomes, and manufacturing speaks louder than phrases.
His means to keep away from turnovers and rating in isolations and discover open teammates will inform everybody whether or not he’s or is not in decline.
“I didn’t average 30 points in the regular season,” he mentioned. “You give me opportunities in this fourth quarter, and I take advantage of them. I’ve done an unbelievable job throughout the course of my career of just understanding what the job needs to be, especially as I get older, and doing whatever it takes to win the game. That’s the most important thing.”
3. Robinson or Strus for 3
This sequence begs for somebody to stretch defenses as a result of neither crew is having a straightforward time piling up the factors. In such conditions, the 3-point shot turns into far more significant and beneficial and will dictate the result of the sport.
That’s why Robinson and Max Strus might be difference-makers, relying on whether or not these photographs are falling.
Robinson is by far essentially the most dependable of the Pistons from that distance and he has performed nicely via a lot of the playoffs and particularly this sequence.
He’ll want to hit these photographs to keep on the ground, as a result of he hardly ever goes to the free throw line or scores in the mid-range or performs strong sufficient protection.
Same, for essentially the most half, for Strus, who’s being hunted defensively by Harris each time the Pistons have the ball. Strus has the benefit of getting two ball creators in Mitchell and Harden who can command double groups (Mitchell) or make strong passes (Harden) to give Strus a handful of open appears to be like from deep.
If both Robinson or Strus are flirting with 5 – 6 made 3s and 20 factors, their crew may benefit consequently.
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Shaun Powell has lined the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.comdiscover his archive here and follow him on.
