Cavaliers look to tie series

Enjoy the perfect of the 2026 NBA Playoffsoffered by Google, with the NBA.com reside weblog, that includes all the significant moments, performances, observations, information and highlights from Monday’s motion.

Tonight’s motion with the Cleveland Cavaliers in search of to defend The Land and even their season with the Detroit Pistons (8 ET, NBC/Peacock), adopted by the Oklahoma City Thunder in search of to stay excellent and eradicate the Los Angeles Lakers to advance to the Western Conference Finals (10:30 ET, Prime).

What we find out about Monday’s video games:

• The Thunder are the sixth NBA champion to open their repeat Playoff marketing campaign by going 7-0, becoming a member of groups just like the 2016-17 Cavaliers (10-0), 2000-01 Lakers (11-0) and 1992-93 Bulls (7-0).

MAY 11, 2026 / 9:52 ET

Paul Reed conserving the Pistons alive

BBall Paul (7 pts in seven minutes) has rallied the Pistons in the midst of this Cavalanche, reducing the lead to 80-68 with 3:12 to go within the third quarter.

He simply went at Jarrett Allen, attacking from the perimeter to spin right into a hook shot, then sinking it over the shot-blocking middle. Pretty spectacular.

MAY 11, 2026 / 9:45 ET

Cavaliers run 21-0

73-56 Cavaliers with 6:29 to go within the third quarter, because the Cavs proceed their scoring streak.

It’s the most important run in Cavaliers postseason historical past.

MAY 11, 2026 / 9:39 ET

cleveland rolling

68-56 Cavs with 8:16 to go within the third quarter, as James Harden (18 pts) and Donovan Mitchell (15 pts) splash back-to-back threes to drive a Detroit timeout.

It’s a 16-0 Cleveland run to open the second half.

MAY 11, 2026 / 9:35 ET

Cavaliers surge into second half

Donovan Mitchell (12 pts) put up the primary eight factors of the quarter to the Cavaliers, sparking them to a 60-56 lead with simply over ten minutes remaining.

SPIDA’S GOT THE FIRST 8 POINTS OF Q3 🕷️

Cavs lead by 4 in Game 4! pic.twitter.com/4LkOjoYa3x

—NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026

A gradual first half doesn’t suggest a gradual second half, particularly when you’re a scorer like Spida.

MAY 11, 2026 / 9:18 ET

Pistons lead 56-52 on the half

Caris LeVert (17 pts) and Tobias Harris (14 pts, 9 reb) are main the way in which for the Pistons, as they shoot 55% to take a four-point lead into the half.

“Just trying to take what was given to me,” stated LeVert.

James Harden (15 pts, 6 ast) is sizzling for Cleveland, however Donovan Mitchell (4 pts, 1-of-8 taking pictures) has but to get on monitor.

MAY 11, 2026 / 8:49 ET

Cavs on an 11-3 run

Sam Merrill knocked down a fast catch-and-shoot 3-pointer to give the Cavaliers a 32-31 lead with 8:48 to go within the second interval.

On the prior possession, Max Strus (5 pts) stole the ball from Ausar Thompson and raced again for a jam.

Strus steal & slam 💥

Cavs are combating to even the series at 2-2 within the East Semis! pic.twitter.com/rwQBWfYw2K

—NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026

The Cavs’ vitality is choosing up in entrance of their residence crowd as they search to even the series.

MAY 11, 2026 / 8:42 ET

Pistons up 24-21 after one

Caris LeVert (10 pts) is +14 thus far for the Pistons, swinging momentum on the street for Detroit.

MAY 11, 2026 / 8:27 ET

Pistons rallying again

18-15 Cleveland with 5:18 to go within the first quarter, as former Cav Caris LeVert (5 pts, 1 ast) hits a 3-pointer to ship us to a break.

LeVert spent three-plus seasons in Cleveland, averaging 12.5 ppg.

MAY 11, 2026 / 8:15 ET

Harden out to a sizzling begin

El Uno (8 pts) is on hearth to begin Game 4, flattening two 3-pointers and getting to the road within the early minutes.

Harden (4,090) is twelfth on the all-time Playoff scoring checklist, chasing Stephen Curry (4,147) for eleventh. Jerry West (4,457) is tenth.

MAY 11, 2026 / 7:00 ET

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers look to stave off elimination in opposition to the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight on Prime.

Los Angeles:

• PG Austin Reaves
  • Reaves led the Lakers with 39 minutes performed in Game 3. He’s a proficient scorer, however wants to maintain up defensively as greatest he can in opposition to the Thunder’s measurement and slashing means.
• SG Marcus Smart
  • Smart has held Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 9 factors on 3-of-7 taking pictures over 86.6 partial possession on this series, forcing three turnovers.
• SF Rui Hachimura
  • Hachimura is taking pictures 58% from 3-point vary throughout this Playoff run, together with 5-of-8 from deep in Game 3.
• PF LeBron James
  • James has been swept 3 times in his profession — by the Spurs within the 2007 NBA Finals, the Warriors within the 2018 NBA Finals and the Nuggets within the 2023 Western Conference Finals.
• C Deandre Ayton
  • Ayton has been sufficient at greatest thus far on this series, and hasn’t outplayed Chet Holmgren in any sport. Can he rally with the Lakers’ season on the road?

Oklahoma City:

• PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • SGA is averaging 21.0 ppg on this series, deferring some to his teammates.
• SG Ajay Mitchell
  • That contains Mitchell, who had 24 factors and 10 assists in Game 3 — each Playoff profession highs.
• SF Luguentz Dort
  • Dort has been fairly efficient on LeBron James, regardless of his measurement drawback, and scored a season-high 10 factors in Game 3.
• PF Chet Holmgren
  • Holmgren’s measurement and shot-blocking means are troublesome for the Lakers to cope with — there is not any pure counter.
• Isaiah Hartenstein
  • Hartenstein (12 pts, 9 reb) is a constant drawback on the glass for the Lakers — each rebound he will get is a lift for OKC.

Can the Lakers discover a enhance off the bench? JJ Redick is operating out of choices.

He turned to Adou Thiero, who averaged six minutes within the common season, for 13 minutes in Game 3. The 6’8″ wing provides the Lakers some measurement in opposition to the extra bodily, athletic Thunder.

MAY 11, 2026 / 6:30 ET

James Harden and Cade Cunningham lead the Cavaliers and Pistons into tonight’s Game 4 on NBC and Peacock.

Cleveland:

• PG James Harden
  • The Beard scored seven of his 19 factors late in Game 3, exhibiting his Playoff expertise. Against a large Pistons squad, exterior taking pictures and the floater are key to your success.
• SG Donovan Mitchell
  • Mitchell had 35 factors and 10 rebounds in Game 3 — his sixth Playoff double-double, and his third involving rebounds.
• SF Dean Wade
  • Wade had three factors in 17 minutes in Game 3, whereas Max Strus took many of the minutes at small ahead. His measurement is helpful in opposition to Cade Cunningham, however his lack of means off the bounce hampers the Cleveland offense.
• PF Evan Mobley
  • Mobley has not had a dominant sport on this series but, regardless of taking part in in opposition to a Pistons’ workforce that sometimes performs just one true huge. Can I management the glass in opposition to this workforce?
• C Jarrett Allen
  • Allen had 18 factors on 9 pictures in Game 3, exhibiting his talent as a curler.

Detroit:

• PG Cade Cunningham
  • Cunningham had a triple-double in Game 3 (27 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast), however required 27 pictures to accomplish that. The predominant approach to gradual the Pistons is to restrict their effectivity.
• SG Duncan Robinson
  • Robinson racked up 5 steals in Game 3 — the primary such sport of his profession.
• SF Ausar Thompson
  • Thompson has held Donovan Mitchell to 1-of-7 taking pictures thus far over 61.6 partial possessions on this series.
• P.F. Tobias Harris
  • Harris saved up his clutch scoring in Game 3 with 21 factors. After not placing up back-to-back 20+ level video games within the common season, he now has three straight on this series.
• C Jalen Duren
  • Duren was -14 in Game 3, whereas backup Paul Reed was +11. Keep a watch on the minutes distribution in Game 4.

MAY 11, 2026 / 6:00 ET

Monday’s damage report

Kevin Huerter and Caris LeVert are questionable for the Pistons, whereas Thomas Bryant is questionable for the Cavaliers.

Jalen Williams is out for the Thunder, whereas Luka Dončić is out for the Lakers.