By Oliver Carter
The Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semi-final match-up.
The game took place at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and marked the Cavaliers’ first away win of the playoffs so far.
Story of the game
Having dropped to 2-2 from a 2-0 series lead, the Pistons looked to bounce back and retake the lead on their home court.
They came out of the gates looking dominant, winning the first quarter, before going on a run that spanned from the end of the first all the way until halfway through the second.
The Pistons outscored the Cavaliers 24-7 over a seven-minute stretch pushing the lead out to 45-32.
Cleveland put a slight dent in the lead before the half, but the Pistons still led by eight as the first half ended 52-60.
The Cavaliers came out of the break and began to cut into the lead, eventually taking their first lead of the game late in the third.
The lead began to go back and forth, until midway through the final quarter the Pistons jumped back out to a nine-point lead.
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Holding a 94-103 lead with three minutes remaining the Pistons looked set for a win, however they failed to score for the rest of the game while the Cavaliers pulled the game to 103-103.
The Cavaliers had possession of the ball for the final play of the game, Donovan Mitchell began dribbling into the paint before getting blocked from behind by Ausar Thompson.
As Thompson and Cavaliers centre Jarett Allen tried to gather the loose ball, Allen tripped Thompson sending the ball out of bounds ending the game.
However, Thompson and the rest of the Pistons immediately began talking to the referees claiming that he had been fouled by Allen.
Had the foul been called, due to the fact that the Cavaliers were over the foul limit, Thompson would’ve been at the free-throw line needing to make just one to win the game.
Thompson shot just 57.1% from the line throughout the regular season, but with the game on the line and only needing to make one, the Pistons would’ve had a huge chance to win the game.
Despite the protests of Pistons head coach J.B Bickerstaff alongside the rest of the Pistons roster, no foul was called.
The game headed into overtime where Cleveland kept their momentum from the end of the fourth, taking their biggest lead of the game.
A seven point lead for the Cavaliers with under three minutes of overtime remaining was too much for the Pistons to overcome, eventually losing by four.
The game ended: Cavaliers 117-113 Pistons.
Standout performances
James Harden and Donovan Mitchell both struggled with efficiency despite leading the Cavaliers in scoring.
Mitchell ended with 21 points, four rebounds and three assists on 38.9% shooting and just one of eight made three-pointers.
Harden shot just 38.1% from the field and three of ten from three-point range as well as racking up six turnovers and five fouls, despite this the former MVP still managed 30 points, eight rebounds, six assists, a steal and three blocks.
Max Strus and Evan Mobley also chipped in with Strus scoring 20 points, grabbing eight rebounds alongside a steal and a block. Mobley ended a few counting stats shy of a triple-double with 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Jarrett Allen also added 16 points and 10 rebounds, every member of the Cavaliers starting unit adding over 15 points, with very little help from the bench.
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The Pistons were carried by Cade Cunningham as he ended with 39 points, seven rebounds, nine assists and two steals, however, his playoff turnover issues remained as he tallied another six turnovers.
Cunningham is averaging 5.8 turnovers per game in the playoffs so far, up from 3.7 in the regular season.
Daniss Jenkins also continues to impress for the Pistons, the 6”4 24-year-old started the year in the G-League and has worked his way up earning the starting shooting-guard role for the Pistons.
Jenkins had 19 points, three assists, a steal and two blocks in 41 minutes of action.
Ausar Thompson didn’t score much, ending with six points, but massively contributed everywhere else with seven rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks.
Thompson was also 2/2 from the free throw line, converting both of his free throws, once again showing that had a foul been called with under two seconds remaining, the Pistons almost certainly would have won.
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Geoffrey H. Latayan 
Simon Wilkes