Donovan Mitchell struggled early in Game 4 as the Pistons clogged his driving paths and forced difficult shots, but he erupted in the second half.
Jason Miller / Getty Images
Donovan Mitchell netted 21 of his game-high 43 points in the third quarter, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 112-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday, tying the Eastern Conference semifinals at 2-2.
Mitchell’s 39-point second half matched the playoff record set by Eric “Sleepy” Floyd for most points in a half, accomplished 39 years and a day after Floyd scored 39 against the Lakers on May 10, 1987.
James Harden contributed 24 points and 11 assists for Cleveland, which outscored Detroit 60-47 in the second half after opening the third quarter with a dominant 22-0 run. Mitchell alone accounted for 18 points during that stretch.
Caris LeVert led the Pistons off the bench with 24 points, while Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris combined for only 35 points on 13-for-33 shooting. Detroit was hampered by 20 turnovers, which led to 25 Cavaliers points, and excessive fouling, as Cleveland attempted 22 more free throws. Mitchell alone took 15 free throws, surpassing the Pistons’ team total of 12.
With Game 5 set for Wednesday in Detroit, here are key takeaways.
**Mitchell Takes Over Game 4**
Donovan Mitchell has stepped up when it counts in this series. As noted over the weekend, this matchup between the Cavs and their former coach J.B. Bickerstaff revolves heavily around Mitchell. Losing to Bickerstaff in a playoff series with a spot in the conference finals on the line would have been damaging. Mitchell’s slow start—missing his first six shots and not scoring until late in the second quarter—was concerning, but Cleveland actually posted a plus-5 rating during his minutes in that period. Then came a performance worthy of the all-time greats: 21 points in the third quarter on 8-of-9 shooting completely flipped the game. The Cleveland crowd, by far the loudest this season, serenaded him with “MVP” chants. After complaining about not getting to the foul line this postseason, Mitchell took 15 free throws and made 13.
Mitchell wasn’t alone. Harden delivered another strong outing, and Cleveland’s star backcourt appears to be hitting its stride. Can they lead the Cavaliers to their first road playoff win in 2026? The journey continues.
A quick note: Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson inserted deep bench players late, and Detroit cut the lead to eight points with about 50 seconds left, forcing Atkinson to reinsert his starters. That wasn’t ideal.
**Pistons Collapse in Second Half**
Detroit fell apart at the start of the third quarter, allowing Cleveland’s 22-0 run that turned a four-point halftime deficit into an 18-point lead they never overcame. Mitchell torched the Pistons’ defense from all levels, matching Detroit’s entire third-quarter scoring output. The Pistons’ offense stagnated, leading to six of their 16 turnovers and giving Cleveland the momentum to build a double-digit lead. Detroit attempted another fourth-quarter rally but couldn’t get enough stops or scoring. Mitchell outplayed Cunningham, who finished with 19 points on 16 shots and committed five turnovers against six assists. Jalen Duren continued his playoff struggles, managing only eight points and committing more fouls (five) than field goals made (four). The Pistons need to regroup as the series returns to Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, tied at two games apiece.
The NBA coach and referee were once college teammates. Now in the playoffs, it’s all business.
(Not a secret that Atkinson and Blair share a history, but it’s little known they played together.)
How Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff transformed the NBA’s worst team into winners.
(Learning from his father, assistant roles, and failure—his goal: make players feel “invincible.”)